Keenan Clayton knew what to expect on Saturday. He'd been doing it all spring.
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The junior linebacker would play nearly every defensive snap, switching back and forth between the first and second-team defense to make up for the loss of redshirt freshman Austin Box.
Still, Clayton wasn't sure what toll the workload might take in a full-game setting.
"At first I was like, ‘Man I don't know how I'm going to be able to handle this,' ” he said. "But we've been going three hours in practice — just as many snaps as we are out here in the scrimmage.”
Clayton, who gradually transitioned from safety to linebacker over the course of his redshirt sophomore season in 2007, logged four tackles, including a sack in the Red-White Game.
He only left the field when the Oklahoma defense switched into its "22-personnel” set.
"I'd say I had an alright day,” Clayton said. "I had a couple of mental busts. Those are plays I have to make. I believe I can do a whole lot better.”
Clayton might have been his biggest critic. Both head coach Bob Stoops and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Brent Venables praised Clayton at length after the scrimmage.
•Windy woes: Wind gusts upwards of 30 mph met the Sooners as they took the field.
And while one could blame Mother Nature for struggles in the passing game throughout the afternoon, no one had more excuse than the OU kickers.
"The wind was absolutely crazy,” said redshirt freshman Jimmy Stevens, who converted three field goal attempts and four extra points despite the elements. "It was swirling so much we had to squib it on kickoffs. I was even worried about the short field goals.”
Stevens was supposed to begin the game kicking off for the first team, but was replaced by Matthew Moreland on the opening kickoff at Stoops behest. Moreland has exhibited a stronger boot on kickoff duty this spring.
Moreland's first kick traveled just 39 yards.
•Injury report: The game produced no surprises from an injury standpoint.
Ten of Oklahoma's "Unlucky 13” missed Saturday's final spring scrimmage.
Among them: cornerback Quinton Carter (hamstring), defensive end Auston English (shoulder), linebacker Austin Box (elbow), wide receivers Ryan Broyles (collarbone) and Adron Tennell (knee), offensive tackle Duke Robinson (ankle), safety Nic Harris (shoulder), defensive end John Williams (heel) and tailbacks DeMarco Murray (knee) and Chris Brown (knee).
Of the three players who returned from injury last week to finish spring drills on the field, sophomore cornerback Jonathan Nelson had the best day, adding three tackles to a dazzling 81-yard interception return for a touchdown. Wideout Manuel Johnson returned kicks but went without a reception. Linebacker Ryan Reynolds had eight tackles.
•Super Bowers: Junior defensive back Brett Bowers isn't known for heavy hitting, but he delivered a couple of big ones Saturday.
Two of Bowers' three tackles uprooted his offensive opponents, putting them on their backs and giving the career backup a chance to soak in the spotlight.
"I feel like I tackled well today,” Bowers said. "The previous scrimmages, I've kind of just gone in with my head down. Today, I made some good plays defensively as far as my hits.
"If you get more reps and you're in there for a little while, you get more comfortable and your position becomes a lot easier.”
Bowers has been working to help bring along redshirt freshman Sam Proctor — he had nine tackles Saturday — but he's also learning.
"Nic Harris and Lendy Holmes came in my class, but they've played a lot more,” Bowers said. "They've really helped me out at my position.”
•Spring is the thing: More than 23,000 fans attended Saturday's game. Here's how the Sooners stack up to other major football program spring games:
OU — 23,306 ($5-$10 admission charge)
Texas — 43,300 (free)
Georgia — 19,874 ($5)
LSU — 33,624 ($5)
Florida — 61,000 ($5)
By Blake Jackson
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Talked to a kid, this weekend, that is going to CU as an O-Lineman. He played in the Army HS AA game and got to be around a few of the incoming Sooner Frosh. Said RJ Washington and and Hannan (sp?), the center, were the "real deal" - very tough.
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Mossis Madu, center, cuts between Sam Proctor, left, and Keenan Clayton during Saturday's game. By STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN
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