OU football notebook

OU defensive end Auston English has been added to the watch list for the Ted Hendricks Award, given to the nation's best defensive end. English ranks ninth nationally in sacks per game and leads the Big 12 with 7.5 sacks.

English is also 11th in the country in tackles for loss, averaging 1.1 a game.

English, from Canadian, Texas, has 3.5 sacks in his last two outings, wins over Texas and Missouri.

No Big 12 player has ever won the Hendricks, which has been around since 2002.

• DT McCoy just playing: OU defensive tackle Gerald McCoy had his best game of the year against Missouri, recording two tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry and his first career sack.

McCoy got off to a slow start, going through the entire non-conference schedule with just one tackle.

"I changed my mindset. I was thinking way too much,” McCoy said. "I should've done this a long time ago. I just went out there and played.”

McCoy, who is known for dancing in the locker room, didn't celebrate after his first sack, though.

"On the field, I'm just not real boastful,” McCoy said. "That's what Barry Sanders did. He'd go this way, that way and score. Then he'd just hand the ball to the ref.”

• LB Reed still with team: OU message boards have speculated this week that reserve linebacker Mike Reed is no longer on the team. That's not true.

Reed has been away from practice because his wife, who also lives in Norman, has been in the hospital.

"(Reed) is with us. His wife is dealing with a medical issue,” coach Bob Stoops said. "He's been helping her and his kids with that. He's still part of the team. Hopefully his wife will continue to heal and he'll be back with us as soon as he can.”

• Dormant Cyclones: Three years ago, Iowa State was one of the nation's up-and-coming offensive teams, thanks to prospects of then-sophomore quarterback Bret Meyer.

But as a senior, Meyer has struggled so far under first-year coach Gene Chizik by tossing just five TD passes and 10 interceptions. The Cyclones are 115th in the nation in scoring offense (16.3 points per game) and seemed destined for their first one-win season in 10 years.

• Another All-American: The midseason All-American honors keep coming for the Sooners.

OU offensive guard Duke Robinson was named a first-team All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com. Cornerback Reggie Smith made the second team.

The list's midseason player of the year is Texas Tech freshman receiver Michael Crabtree, who leads the nation in receptions (78), receiving yards (1,244) and TD catches (17).

• The Duke of OU: Sooner left guard Duke Robinson has been named a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award, given to the nation's best lineman in the country. The 6-foot-5, 352-pound Robinson has started 21 straight games for the Sooners. Thanks to Robinson and the rest of the offensive line, quarterback Sam Bradford has had time to lead the nation in quarterback efficiency. Bradford has been sacked just six times in seven games.

Overall, the Sooners are fourth in the nation in scoring, averaging 48.4 points per game.

By Jake Trotter