The Football Brainiacs

Image via @OU_Football

– Fall Camp | Team Notes: As you’re surely aware by now, the Sooners began fall camp early Thursday morning and are already back at it again today (Friday). As promised, TFB managed to round up a few notes from the first practice to pass along to our loyal readers. Keep in mind, however, that the team isn’t in pads yet. Having said that, though, they certainly aren’t playing patty cake out there either.

So while it’s certainly necessary to take some of what we share with the requisite grain of salt, it’s also not as though there is literally nothing to be gleaned (as some might have you believe) from this type of practice info. But enough with the appe-teasers, let’s get to the main course.

Neville Gallimore: Yesterday I tweeted out…

Heard Gallimore was dominant this morning…#Sooners

— Super K (@SuperK_TFB) August 4, 2016

And I did so after being told that redshirt freshman DT Neville Gallimore was straight bullying people yesterday, which included a first team OL. “Neville looked really improved from last year,” one source told TFB. This corroborates what I’d be hearing all summer, specifically that Gallimore had put in a lot of work over the summer and has considerably improved upon both his build and conditioning.

You may recall that when Gallimore arrived from Canada last year, the OU workouts were, needless to say, a bit of a shock to him in terms of how taxing and difficult they are.

So the positive early report is certainly welcome news for a guy in Gallimore that OU is looking for big things from in 2016. And it’s not just Gallimore, but really all of the talented younger guys, of which the Sooners have several, who will be asked to step up this year. Because having another difference-maker to go along with Charles Walker may not be a glaring need necessarily, but it can only help this team — and the rest of the defense behind them — with respect to their playoff aspirations.

Freshmen Cornerbacks: I also asked about the freshmen cornerbacks and was told Parnell Motley and Parrish Cobb took reps with the third team. The person TFB spoke to said Motley looked ‘more ready’ than Cobb on this particular day, but as you all know Cobb only recently arrived in Norman. However this same source also said in terms of the actual number of reps, Cobb probably received ‘a few more’ than Motley.

Apparently Jordan Parker did not go on Thursday, but we were not given a specific reason as to why.

Receivers: Was told that to begin camp the starters are Dede Westbrook, Jarvis Baxter, Mark Andrews & Jeffrey Mead. It’s probably fair to assume at this point that Westbrook, Baxter and Andrews probably aren’t going anywhere in terms of being starters. And maybe Mead eventually proves to be the same, but for now we expect he’ll likely have to keep fighting guys like AD Miller, Dahu Green and others.

In terms of the actual practice, TFB was told Baxter had a pretty nice one-handed grab during 1-vs-1’s. Also that Westbrook and Jordan Smallwood had some long receptions during the team period.

Will also say that a lot of people I spoke to really like AD Miller. In fact, I’ve had more than one person tell me they feel he’s better than Mead. However, I spoke to Brandon about it who said that from what he’s hearing the staff just feels like Mead is more consistent/reliable right now. But again, these guys are going to have all of fall camp to prove themselves. So we’ll see how things eventually shake out.

One person I (K) talked with did describe Mead as a guy who “maybe doesn’t run the prettiest routes, but he’s so tall and erratic in his movement that you have to respect him.” I get the sense that Miller looks the part, in terms of running cleaner routes and having better apparent body control, but that Mead is effective and gets results.

Cornerback: Sounds like the depth chart at CB as of right now is Jordan Thomas and Dakota Austin with the first team, with Michiah Quick (behind Thomas) and PJ Mbanasor (behind Austin) backing them up. Didn’t hear anything monumental at this spot coming out of the first practice. Was told all the guys looked like they needed to work a little rust off.

I did hear that Quick struggled, as expected, with his technique and with calls occasionally, but that’s not surprising for a first true practice at a new position. We’ll have to wait and see where things are at next week and in the weeks to come.

Offensive Line: The focus of my conversation with a source about the offensive line was in regards to the right side, primarily because we’re of the opinion things from LT – C seem pretty much set. So with respect to that right side, TFB was told the current starting RG, Ben Powers, struggled a little bit in that first practice. Meanwhile, Dru Samia was taking reps at right tackle but the coaches were also having both Bobby Evans and Quinn Mittermeier rotate in there as well.

The impression we were given is that the coaches are definitely looking for a solid option at right tackle in the event they need to move Samia inside. Having said that, Alex Dalton, could potentialy resolve any issues they may have at RG as discussed in Thursday’s Open Post. He’s very athletic guy, but unfortunately he wasn’t able to go on Thursday due to that hand issue we told you about in the OP. – (Super K)

– Johncarlo Valentin: TFB asked about the status of 2016 OL signee Johncarlo Valentin to which we were told he is not expected to qualify and likely heading the JUCO route. – (Brandon)

– Adrian Ealy: After not being able to attend the BBQ, it was expected that 2017 OL & OU offer Adrian Ealy would instead make it to Norman at some point this week to take in a practice. However, TFB has learned that will also now not be happening.

Ealy still plans on using one of his five official visits to see OU at some point during the season, but the odds of an unofficial visit taking place prior to that does not seem likely.

– Kenneth Murray: Earlier this week we shared some notes from our conversation with 2017 LB and recent visitor, Kenneth Murray (Missouri City, TX). Murray is set to announce his decision next Wednesday (Aug. 10). Murray told TFB the decision will come down to “Texas, OU and A&M. And I’ll be announcing at my school.”

❗️ATTENTION❗️
-I will be announcing my commitment on August 10th at Elkins High School (Library) at 8:30 am
– Everyone is welcome to attend

— K9 (@KennethMurray) August 5, 2016

Based on my conversations with Murray, I think the Sooners are the team to beat here. – (Super K)

– Patrick Fields: You likely remember the Sooners extending an offer to 2018 in-state DB, Patrick Fields last week when he was on campus for the BBQ. More good news regarding Fields, in that he plans to be back in Norman this weekend.

Fields tells TFB he will spend the night in Norman on Friday and be at OU “all day tomorrow (Saturday).” – (Brandon)