OU football notebook: Hughey likely to leave team, graduate early

Jake Trotter

Published: March 7, 2008

OU backup center Noah Hughey is not participating in spring drills and doesn't plan to rejoin the team, his parents said Thursday.

Hughey, of El Reno, is on schedule to graduate from OU in three years this summer and wants to pursue a career writing movie screenplays.

Hughey has also been battling a broken wrist for the last three months, which has forced him to wear and play with a cast.

Hughey will probably have to wear the cast for another three months before he can take it off, which has played a part in his decision.

"He loves the coaches, loves the players and he loves OU,” said his father, Bill Hughey. "The coaches have kept the door wide open for him. They've told him he can come back if he wants to.”

Hughey played only one year of high school football at El Reno, instead concentrating on baseball.

He played one season of college baseball at the Redlands Community College, before deciding he wanted to try and walk-on to the Sooner football team. For the last two years, Hughey has been the No. 2 center on the OU depth chart.

Hughey's younger brother, Dylan Hughey, is planning on walking-on to OU next season at linebacker.

•Murray on track to be back by June: Even though he'll miss spring drills, OU running back DeMarco Murray won't be out much longer. The rising sophomore said the rehabilitation of a dislocated kneecap is "going well” and that he expects to be back working out with the team by June.

Murray said he's been doing a similar rehab program as wide receiver Adron Tennell, who tore his ACL.

Both players were injured last season in a loss at Texas Tech.

•Bowers back on team, roster: Despite being taken off the team's official online roster for undisclosed reasons during the off-season, Sooner reserve safety Brett Bowers was placed back on the roster Tuesday and was seen practicing with the team Wednesday.

Bowers, who will be a senior, has contributed mostly on special teams for the Sooners.

•OU will have second practice today: The Sooners will conduct their second spring practice this afternoon before taking the weekend off. OU will resume spring drills on Monday.

•Sooners reveal winter results: OU released the results from its winter conditioning testing. Cornerbacks Dominique Franks and Jamell Fleming posted the team's best times in the 40-yard dash, each running it in 4.48 seconds.

Defensive back Jonathan Nelson had the best vertical leap (41.5 inches) and center Jon Cooper had the best bench press (455 pounds).

•Griffin signs with CFL's Roughriders: Just four years ago, former Sooner Quentin Griffin was running wild for the NFL's Denver Broncos. Griffin is still playing football, but no longer in the NFL.

Late last week, the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League inked Griffin to a one-year deal.

The 5-foot-7, 195-pound running back was released by the Broncos the season after suffering a season-ending knee injury in 2004. After a stint with Kansas City, Griffin spent last year playing in NFL Europe.

At OU, Griffin had more than 3,400 career rushing yards and 40 touchdowns.

By Jake Trotter

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