Newcomers may vie for open jobs
OU needs help at several positions
OU needs help at several positions

NORMAN — Because of graduation and surprising early departures to the NFL Draft, Oklahoma has several holes to plug this spring.

Some of those will be filled by players already on the roster.

Others, however, could be filled by incoming freshmen or junior-college transfers.

This past season, offensive tackle Phil Loadholt was the only newcomer to see any significant playing time.

But this year, as many as nine new Sooners could make an impact on the 2008 season.

OU needs help the most at linebacker, where the Sooners lost two starters and where Ryan Reynolds is still working to get back to 100 percent following two knee surgeries.

Junior-college linebackers Mike Balogun and J.R. Bryant will be given the opportunities to start right away.

Not only is Balogun built like a tank (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) but he doesn't miss many tackles either, earning conference defensive player of the year honors last season.

If he adjusts to the upgrade in competition, Balogun could replace Curtis Lofton as OU's starting middle linebacker, assuming the Sooner coaches don't slide Reynolds over to the middle.

Bryant, meanwhile, will battle redshirt freshmen Austin Box and Travis Lewis for a starting spot at outside linebacker left vacant by Lewis Baker.

Bryant boasts tremendous speed for a linebacker, but he too will have to show he can adjust to Division I competition.

Linebacker, however, isn't the only position in need of replacements. The Sooners also lost both cornerbacks and a safety.

Junior-college playmaker David Sims could fill one of those positions.

Sims — who might double as a punt or kick returner — is rumored to have 4.38 speed, which means he will challenge receiver Tyler Stradford for the claim of fastest player on the team. With feet that fleet, Sims could turn heads in the spring.

Offensively, OU's biggest hole is at wide receiver, where future NFL first-round pick Malcolm Kelly started for the last three seasons.

That spot could be replaced with Stradford or Fiesta Bowl MVP Quentin Chaney.

Or, one of OU's talented incoming freshman receivers could step into the starting lineup.

Both Jameel Owens (6-3, 210, 4.4) and Josh Jarboe (6-2, 195, 4.4) have enough talent, size and speed to start right away.

If Julio Jones, the top receiver recruit in the nation, inks with the Sooners on signing day, he could also make a big impact early in the season.

Finally, running back Jermie Calhoun, defensive end R.J. Washington and offensive tackle Stephen Good — OU's five-star Texas trio — will walk into position battles where the Sooners are already deep.

All three, however, are gifted enough and physically mature enough to work their way into the playing rotations as true freshmen.

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