OU Football Notebook: NCAA denies DeMarcus Granger’s hardship request
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Published: October 28, 2009
NCAA denies Granger’s hardship request
The NCAA has denied Oklahoma defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger’s request for a medical hardship that would have allowed him to play another season. OU coach Bob Stoops confirmed the ruling Tuesday.
Granger is a redshirt senior and out of eligibility after this year. Granger, a former starter who is yet to step on the field this season, had surgery on his lower back last December.
Granger practiced with the team until a week ago. But a nerve problem in one of his legs has prevented Granger from coming off the ball with explosion, Stoops said.
"It’s very unfortunate for DeMarcus,” Stoops said. "He has fought through that back, and he has part of a nerve that hasn’t quite fully come back yet. They believe it will, it just hasn’t over time to where he’s not able to fire the one leg as strong or quick as he needs to.
"It’s been frustrating. He’s been a great teammate. He’s been out there working, up until the last week, trying to help. He’s just not able to quite do it.”
Stoops: Jackson should be Thorpe candidate
Especially based on the last two games, Stoops agreed that Sooner cornerback Brian Jackson should receive consideration for the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes annually to college football’s top defensive back.
Not only did Jackson tie a school record with interceptions in four straight games, he shut down two of the nation’s best receivers the last two weeks in Texas’ Jordan Shipley and Kansas’ Dezmon Briscoe.
Shipley only had four catches for 22 yards going against Jackson. Briscoe didn’t fare much better, finishing with seven grabs for just 60 yards.
"Being matched up with the two receivers the last two weeks, being right on top of them, he has been incredible,” Stoops said. "He really held them down in the checks, neither of them had a big play and caught very few balls. He wasn’t on them on every single play, but he was on them for the majority of the game and we knew that if we were going to have a good defensive day he had to really show up and play great and he did.”
Bradford to have surgery today
Quarterback Sam Bradford will undergo surgery today on his separated throwing shoulder, which will end his season and likely his career at Oklahoma. Renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews will perform the procedure in Birmingham, Ala. Recovery time is expected to take 4-6 months.
Bradford said earlier this week that unless something goes wrong with the rehabilitation, he will declare for the NFL Draft after this season.
Murray’s status still uncertain
Stoops said he isn’t sure whether running back DeMarco Murray will be able to play this week. Murray missed last weekend’s game against Kansas with a sprained ankle he suffered the week before against Texas.
"He practiced (Monday)," Stoops said. "I anticipate him practicing through the week, but it just gets down to later in the week if he’s back at full speed. He’s closer, though.”
Fellow running back Chris Brown, however, said after Tuesday’s practice he expects Murray to return to the lineup Saturday.
Broyles continuing to feel better
Slot receiver Ryan Broyles said his healing fractured shoulder blade continues to improve, even though he played on it the last two weeks.
"I’m feeling good,” he said.
One sign of his improvement: this week Broyles finally shed his no-contact, blue jersey, which he’s had to wear in practice the last two weeks.
Stoops discusses kicking switch
The Sooners made a switch at place-kicker against Kansas, replacing two-year starter Jimmy Stevens with freshman Tress Way.
Stevens missed a key 45-yard field goal in a 16-13 loss to Texas. Earlier in the game, a Stevens 26-yard successful attempt took a fortunate clank off the upright.
"I just don’t feel Jimmy has been as consistent as he needs to be,” Stoops said. "Therefore, Tress has shown me enough in practice. He’s much better than he was a year ago, and he’s been more consistent. He deserves that opportunity. So, we’ll see how he handles it."
Jeffries will not start; Simmons still out with injury
Stoops noted that right guard Tavaris Jeffries will not start against Kansas State. Jeffries was suspended for last weekend’s game at Kansas for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
"He won’t start,” Stoops said. "He’ll earn his time by what he does this week. If he doesn’t take care of some business this week, he won’t be there this week, either.”
Sophomore Stephen Good is expected to make his second consecutive start in place of Jeffries.
Stoops also said that injured guard Brian Simmons is still at least "a week or two away” from returning to practice. Simmons injured his knee three weeks ago against Baylor.
Quotable
Stoops when asked if he would be a fan of Oklahoma State, which the Sooners need to beat No. 3 Texas on Saturday to keep their Big 12 South title hopes alive: "That’s fair to say, sure. A bad fan. But I got to be one.”
By Jake Trotter
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