Game Week Notes: Ball State

Some notes from this week as OU prepares to host Ball State on Saturday:

• Sophomore wide receiver Kenny Stills is expected back this week after being held out last week due to lingering concussion symptoms.
• Sophomore wide receiver Trey Franks remains suspended and will not be available this week. It sounds like his situation (multiple violations of team rules) could be revisited next week for the Texas game.
• At his weekly press conference this week, Head Coach Bob Stoops said junior walk-on running back Dominique Whaley’s numbers (measurements, speed, etc.) are “very similar” to Adrian Peterson when he played at OU. He still doesn’t have a scholarship.
• Offensive line coach James Patton (centers and guards) expects OU to be back at full strength at the tackle position this week. Senior Jarvis Jones is still “getting his leg strength back” after a major knee injury in the offseason. He played very briefly last week against Missouri. Redshirt freshman Daryl Williams is also expected back after dealing with an ankle sprain.
• At his press conference, Stoops still wouldn’t rule out playing freshman running back Brandon Williams this season. It seems unlikely that he plays this year if he doesn’t play against Ball State. Of course, an unforeseen injury could change that. Coaches want to see Williams be more reliable with taking care of the ball and being more sound in his blocking assignments.
• Stoops said that sophomore defensive back Aaron Colvin was “feeling good” and practicing this week after suffering what appeared to be a concussion late in the game against Missouri. No official word about his availability yet.
• The Sooners went immediately to full pads with some contact on Monday after a poor week of practices led to an uneven performance against Missouri.

(h/t – Oklahoman)