Bob Stoops declines to address Jalen Saunders' Cotton Bowl status

“Those matters are handled internally,” Stoops said. “Once that’s determined, I’ll say so.”

Saunders, who transferred from Fresno State and became eligible before the Sooners’ Oct. 13 game against Texas, quickly turned into one of the team’s most dynamic offensive weapons. He caught 53 passes for 766 yards and three touchdowns.

Saunders was arrested early in the morning on Sunday, Dec. 2, hours after the Sooners’ regular-season finale, a 24-17 victory at TCU.

KING TIRED OF ‘JOHNNY FOOTBALL’ TALK

Oklahoma faces the enormously difficult task of defending Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner who was voted The Associated Press’ Player of the Year on Tuesday, in a few short weeks.

Senior defensive end David King said he’s excited for the matchup, and that the hype surrounding Manziel — nicknamed “Johnny Football” — is extra motivation.

“We have to sit around here for a month and watch ESPN and all they talk about is ‘Johnny Football,’ or ‘Johnny Heisman,’ or whatever they call him now,” King said. “The whole national media is scrutinizing our defense and that we can’t stop the run.

“We have a lot to prove and, on January 4, we’ll be ready to play.”

JONES: JOHNSON ONE OF TEAM’S BEST ATHLETES