OU football notebook: Bob Stoops, R.J. Washington high on young DEs Michael Onuoha, Charles Tapper

“Michael Onuoha and Tapper, those two guys really look special,” he said after seeing just two days of practice.

The veteran presence at the position, fifth-year senior R.J. Washington, has also been impressed with the duo.

“As soon as they fill out, it's going to be crazy,” Washington said. “As you get older, your body starts changing, you start becoming more an adult and you're going to be lifting weights, you're going to get naturally strong.”

With Onuoha now wearing the No. 84 that Frank Alexander had worn the last four seasons, Washington said he sees a lot of similarities between the two.

“Mike is ridiculously athletic,” Washington said. “He's long. Tap's the exact same way. Tap's a little bit shorter but Tap's kind of thick. I don't know if you all know this, but Tap had never lifted a weight until he got here and you see how thick he already is.”

NILA KASITATI, AUSTIN WOODS WILL PLAY

Nila Kasitati pounded his chest and shouted and moved to the Haka, a traditional dance, on the first day of two-a-days last year. This year, the offensive lineman was recovering from surgery for a heart condition. One that Stoops said isn't life-threatening.

“He'll be able to continue to play,” Stoops said of Kasitati. “He's had it for a long time and no one ever knew it. He never knew it and it just would flare up at times. I couldn't tell you exactly the terms of it, but this procedure, I think he's only going to be out maybe a week. This should correct the problem and he should be fine going forward.”

Trey Millard missed that Kasitati wasn't there to do the Haka again for two-a-days, but said he was glad that Kasitati is better.

“That was just nuts,” Millard said of Kasitati's Haka. “It got two-a-days going and it was wild. He'll be back with us soon. He's a great player and he'll be back.”

Stoops also commented that junior Austin Woods, who battled cancer and went through chemotherapy, will remain the field-goal snapper. Woods continued to condition and lift weights during the offseason.