OU walk-on running back Dominique Whaley shines in Sooners' spring game

Junior Dominique Whaley, a walk-on transfer from Langston, rushed for 65 yards on 10 carries.

It wasn't one of those freak spring situations where the walk-on doesn't see the field the following fall. Coach Bob Stoops and offensive coordinator Josh Heupel said Whaley is in the mix for playing time.

"He's right there with those guys," Stoops said. "Even (dating back to) a year ago he's done well. He's a guy who is definitely in that competition."

From a military family, constantly moving around, Whaley played his final two high school years at Lawton MacArthur.

Langston and Emporia State were the only two schools to recruit him.

After his freshman year at Langston, Whaley left for personal reasons. He sat out one semester and walked on at OU last spring.

Whaley admits he was hoping to just make OU's roster last spring. Now he's driven to carve out a role in what Stoops said will be a "running back by committee."

"I feel the position is wide open," Whaley said. "They're giving all of us plenty of opportunities. I feel I do have a chance to compete and maybe win the job."