Oklahoma football notebook: Bob Stoops says Sooners on wrong side of 'judgment calls'

Johnson played tight end and defensive end for Oklahoma before moving to offensive tackle last season. He started 12 games as a junior, and so far has started all seven of his senior-season games.

STOOPS ON WHALEY: ‘HE'S FINE'

Senior running back Dominique Whaley has suited up for — but hasn't appeared in — Oklahoma's last two games.

Whaley burst onto the scene last year as a walk-on, earning four starts and rushing for 627 yards and nine touchdowns before a season-ending ankle injury at Kansas State.

He started OU's first three games this season, Williams passed him on the depth chart and has earned the last four starts.

Even junior backup Brennan Clay has gotten carries in the last two games, with Whaley standing on the sideline.

“He's fine,” Stoops said when asked if Whaley's ankle was still a problem. “He's been doing well.

“I think some of the reason we've gone more with Damien is the success he's had. Dom's fine. He's practicing. He's as good as he can be.”

ISU'S KNOTT LIKELY OUT FOR SEASON

Iowa State senior linebacker Jake Knott is likely out for the season with a torn left shoulder.

Cyclones coach Paul Rhoads says Knott, the reigning Big 12 defensive player of the week and a first-team All-Big 12 pick in 2011, had surgery Monday in Chicago.

Rhoads says Knott might make it back for a potential bowl game. But the Cyclones won't know more until later in the week.

Knott injured his shoulder on Oct. 20 against Oklahoma State, but he returned and had 11 tackles and forced a fumble in Iowa State's 35-21 win on Saturday over Baylor. Rhoads says Knott was a selfless team player whose leadership will be missed.

JEFFERSON NAMED THORPE SEMIFINALIST

Oklahoma junior safety Tony Jefferson was named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2012 Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nation's best defensive back.

The three Thorpe finalists will be announced Nov. 19.

Jefferson leads the Sooners with 59 tackles, 36 of which are solo tackles. In Oklahoma's 30-13 loss last weekend to No. 3 Notre Dame, he made a team-high 11 stops.

Jefferson was the Jim Thorpe Defensive Back of the Week Oct. 17 after registering seven tackles and an interception in Oklahoma's 63-21 rout of Texas.

The Thorpe Award winner will be announced on ESPN, at the Dec. 6 college football awards show.

The award is presented by Oklahoma City's Jim Thorpe Association.