The Football Brainiacs

Image via Sooner Sports

– Rodney Anderson: As you all know by now, RB Rodney Anderson will miss the upcoming season with a neck injury. We know, from Bob Stoops’ statement on the matter, the injury occurred during the team’s final scrimmage of fall camp this past Thursday. But TFB spoke with a source who offered some specifics as to how Anderson suffered the injury. Evidently he (Anderson) was running the ball on a particular play at one point dropping down low to brace for impact with a defensive back. At which point that DB was unable to get under Anderson’s pads, which resulted in the injury.

Needless to say this is unfortunate news for the young man, who now loses a second straight season to an injury. As a result, the odds of seeing true freshman RB Abdul Adams on the field in 2016 have increased dramatically. Although even prior to Anderson being ruled out there had been talk of Adams playing this season, even with the considerable depth at the RB position.

Adams is someone we have all heard the coaches speak highly of in post-practice interviews as well as a guy TFB has heard good things about behind the scenes. As soon as Adams stepped on campus, he demonstrated a great deal of explosion in the team led 7-on-7’s and seems to have had a good camp.

You may recall, back during their respective recruitments, TFB saying it was difficult to find any glaring differences between the film of Adams and eventual Alabama signee Joshua Jacobs (who is slated to play as a true freshman for the Tide). It may be a little ahead of schedule, but the Sooners appear to have a good one in Adams. – (Super K)

– Team Note | Offensive Line: Based on information from TFB sources with regards to the final days of fall camp, it sounds like Ben Powers is no longer the starting RG. Which really isn’t that much of a surprise considering what we’ve shared here on the site and the talk elsewhere coming out of practices.

It also sounds more and more like Eric Wren has taken over the starting center spot, though that is still considered to be an ongoing battle between Wren and Jonathan Alvarez at the moment.

With less than two weeks to go before the season opener, all the guys will continue to compete but as of late it seems from center to right we could see: Wren at center, with Alvarez and Alex Dalton competing for the right guard spot and, of course, Dru Samia at right tackle.

– Team Notes | Scrimmage/General: In the final major scrimmage of fall camp, defense won the day. While we were told the offense did have some success moving the ball after a few three-and-outs early, ultimately the defense wound up getting the best of them. That said, both Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon each had some 20-30 yard runs and Baker Mayfield made a number of plays in general.

As far as receivers go, I (K) still expect to see Jeffrey Mead as that fourth starter. However, a lot of people like what AD Miller was able to do in camp so expect both he and Dahu Green to be in the rotation. Also asked a source who is the most dangerous receiving threat on the team and this person gave the nod to Mark Andrews, which we expect will please many an OU fan to hear. The same source also mentioned that most of the receiving threats seem to be possession guys, and added that Dede Westbrook is really the only guy who has established himself (so far) as a consistent downfield threat.

Also checked on the status of the defensive backs and was told that both Dakota Austin and PJ Mbanasor are expected back today. With respect to the progression of Michiah Quick, a source told TFB “he (Quick) is more natural a corner than he is a receiver.” However that source also noted that while Quick has definitely progressed, “he still needs a lot of work because he hasn’t played the position in a while.” – (Super K)

– Anthony Hines: In last week’s TFB “Town Hall” someone asked if the Sooners were still in a good spot with 2017 LB Anthony Hines, so we checked in with a source close to Hines to pass along to you all the latest. This person indicated to TFB that it seems as though Hines has narrowed things down to Oklahoma and Texas. And, like a number of Texas in-state players, Hines is waiting to see how Charlie Strong and the Longhorns perform early in the season.

Hines is an early enrollee so unless something changes, his decision obviously won’t be on that drags out until NSD. And while he has still yet to set a commitment date, just based on how Hines’ recruitment has gone I (K) will wager that this one does go all the way to December. – (Super K)

– Taquon Graham: TFB also had the chance to catch up with someone close to recent OU visitor & 2017 defensive lineman, Taquon Graham. Following his trip to Oklahoma, Graham told TFB the Sooners had moved into a great position with him. In fact, people around Graham even gave the impression that OU had perhaps even taken the lead in his recruitment. And with Graham’s LB coach having close ties to Calvin Thibodeaux through their days at the University of Houston, it looked to be just one other advantage in OU’s favor.

However, Graham is another guy who is really looking to see what Texas does (or doesn’t do as it were) on the field in 2016. And the impression we get is that if the Longhorns perform well early, it will be tough for anyone to beat them for the Temple native. – (Super K)