OU football: Dominique Whaley’s 2008 season at Langston

The Dominique Whaley story just gets more and more amazing. The junior walkon rushed for 131 yards and scored four touchdowns in OU’s 47-14 rout of Tulsa on Saturday night.

In 2008, Whaley was a backup tailback at Langston. Here is Whaley’s game by game production from that 2008 season:

Stephen F. Austin: 10 carries, nine yards.

Lincoln University: 15 carries, 104 yards.

Panhandle State: seven carries, 37 yards, one TD.

Lane College: six carries, four yards.

Grambling State: five carries, 16 yards.

Central State (Ohio): five carries, 12 yards.

Southern Nazarene: two carries, 23 yards.

Bacone: three carries, 57 yards, one TD.

Mid-America Nazarene: one carry, minus-three yards.

Sioux Falls: four carries, minus-one yard.

Can you believe it? The guy is all the rage for the nation’s No. 1-ranked team, and his launching pad to that status was being a spring sensation for the Sooners. His launching pad to that status was spot duty for an NAIA team on the Oklahoma plains, playing teams with Nazarene in their name.

Bob Stoops played it straight Monday during the Big 12 teleconference, saying of Whaley, “He’s a guy with excellent vision. A very dependable, hard-working guy that has talent. He’s got excellent speed. He’s probably a low-4.4, high 4.3 (40-yard dash) guy. He’s got a 40-inch vertical jump. He’s gained about 20 pounds since he’s been here, so he’s gained strength to run through some tackles. He’s just really worked his way into being a solid player. We like his strength and his ability to make plays.”

OK. But that’s a script that applies to lots of guys. How about the fairy tale part. From Langston in Logan County to four touchdowns on Owen Field?

“It’s a very unusual and great story of a guy who’s really worked his way into this position,” Stoops said. “He’s gained 20 pounds, and it’s 20 pounds of muscle. He’s gained power and strength and speed and has worked his way into being one of these guys you can really count on.”