Fox Sports Says McFarland Ready for Breakout Season

Brian Smith, a writer covering the Big 12 for Fox Sports Southwest, says Sooner defensive tackle Jamarkus McFarland is one of ten Big 12 players who could be ready to “take that big leap forward and explode onto the regional – and even the national – scene” this season.

“OU's bread-and-butter has been dominating the line of scrimmage. Just like any other national powerhouse, the Sooners believe that stopping the run will put the opposing offense in a bind and lead to turnovers. In the Stoops era, Oklahoma has been tremendously successful when it comes to stuffing teams on the ground. But in 2010, Stoops' team gave up more than four yards per carry for the first time during his tenure. OU allowed 11 of its 14 opponents to rush for over 100 yards. In a too-close-for-comfort win over Air Force, the Sooners got gashed for 351 rushing yards.

“If Oklahoma's defense wants to get back to its dominant ways, it must get stronger at the point of attack. The defensive tackles, in particular, have to provide a bigger roadblock in the middle. Jarmarkus McFarland chose Norman over Austin in a particularly heated recruiting battle between the Sooners and Longhorns. McFarland isn't the biggest interior defensive lineman on the roster, but he does have great strength. However, that hasn't completely translated since McFarland first stepped on campus. Finally in the spring leading up to his junior year, McFarland made great strides in practice. He is currently slated to start alongside junior Stacy McGee in Oklahoma's front four.

“McFarland will have to hold off junior Casey Walker, who is bigger, and redshirt freshman Torrea Peterson, who has impressed in the summer and early fall. But if he can continue to tap into his all-world talent, McFarland will be a big part in the turnaround of Oklahoma's vaunted run defense.”