The Football Brainiacs

Image of PJ Mbanasor via @OU_Football

– Team Notes | Cornerbacks: We all know Jordan Thomas has the left cornerback spot on lock. The right cornerback position, however, has been open to competition for some time now. And based on everything we have heard to date, it’s looking more and more like Dakota Austin — who has been running with the first team since early spring — will be given the nod opposite Thomas to start the season.

For the past few seasons the Sooners have been relatively thin at the cornerback position. Zack Sanchez was forced to play injured many times due to the lack of depth, while freshmen (at the time) like Jordan Thomas and later PJ Mbanasor were forced to play before they were really ready. But now it looks as though OU is starting to build some legitimate depth at CB.

Dakota Austin – I’m told Austin had a good week of practice and a good camp overall. He has been all over the short routes, which isn’t uncommon for him, but we are also told he’s doing an excellent job at limiting big plays down the field. This is especially good to hear knowing that he plays on the right side and lines up in practice in front of bigger guys like Jeffrey Mead and Dahu Green.

PJ Mbanasor – The true sophomore is running second team behind Austin, and has really worked to refine his technique while getting much more comfortable using his size to be physical with receivers. We spoke to one source who said Mbanasor improved throughout this past week and had what they considered to be his best day yet of fall camp. We have every confidence the young cornerback will be more than prepared if/when his number is called.

Michiah Quick – Put simply, Quick’s start to camp wasn’t good according to what we were told. But after Quick struggled on the first day, he’s been able to pick things up more and more as time goes on and has started to get more comfortable on the defensive side of the ball.

He also didn’t have the best day during the mini-scrimmage earlier this week, but was much improved during Thursday’s practice. Considering he has moved from WR to CB, it’s perfectly normal for Quick to have a lot of up-and-down days. We’re told he still has to clean up his technique some, but the more we hear about Quick the more we get the sense he can offer the Sooners quality depth at the left cornerback position (he plays exclusively behind Thomas).

I still don’t get the sense that any of the freshmen will be called on (yet) and as I’ve noted all summer, Parnell Motley would be the only likely possibility at the moment. But with Austin having a good camp and Mbanasor & Quick improving quickly, the Sooners may finally have a true two-deep on the outside. – (Super K)

– Team Note | Jamal Danley: I spoke with a source earlier this week who told me that due to a medical issue, Jamal Danley is very unlikely to see the field at Oklahoma this season.

Danley will remain on scholarship and with the team, but it is our understanding that he is not expected to play in 2016. – (Super K)

– K’Lavon Chaisson: For a while it seemed like K’Lavon Chaisson committing to OU was not only inevitable, but imminent. In fact a number of folks around the OU program, and around Chaisson himself, expected it to happen earlier this summer. As we’ve noted several times, getting information out of Chaisson can be difficult as he’s not the biggest talker. But TFB spoke with a couple people close to him, including a coach, and it does sound like, for now, he’s slowed things down a bit.

One of Chaisson’s coaches tells me that the 2017 LB will take four visits this upcoming season and presumably make a decision following those visits. I’m told two of those visits will be to Oklahoma and Texas. The source also said Chaisson plans to attend the OU/Houston game and is also hoping to make it up for OU/Ohio State. – (Super K)

– Who Get’s the Last Spot? | Offensive Line: With the flip of Creed Humphrey earlier this week, the Sooners are almost full at the offensive line position in this 2017 class. They have a center in Humphrey. They have a pair of hybrid guard/tackles in Tyrese Robinson and Marquis Hayes. All they are missing now is their pure offensive tackle prospect. And at this time they have their eyes set on three primary targets:

Chuck Filiaga – I checked on Filiaga earlier this week to see if he would be making a return visit to Oklahoma during fall camp. And while he said he would not, his response still sounded promising. “I don’t think I’ll be able to (make it to Norman for fall camp), not with practice and almost done settling in to the new house. But if I could, I definitely would. I love being in Norman.”

Adrian Ealy – Ealy was hoping to be in Norman for an unofficial visit this summer, but was never able to actually make it. However, he has long maintained plans to be in Norman for the OU/Ohio State game next month.

Stephan Zabie – Zabie visited Oklahoma once before and after TFB spoke with a family member at that time, it was pretty clear the Sooners (along with Texas A&M) were his leaders. We’ve since had a chance to catch up with that same family member, who said that while they were not able to make a return trip to Norman this summer, they plan to visit for a game this fall. – (Super K)

– UPDATE (Fri., 1:27 pm):

Source informs me that #Sooners DT, Courtney Garnett is no longer with the team.

— Super K (@SuperK_TFB) August 12, 2016