Observations from Oklahoma's Fourth Spring Practice

Oklahoma held another spring practice early Monday evening, and local media got a roughly 45-minute window to film and photograph.

Here are some observations from the Sooners On SI staff:

Injuries/Players Not Full-Participants

• Elijah Thomas was wearing a boot on his left foot and not participating.
• Xavier Robinson was wearing a boot on his right leg/foot, he walked off the field as practice began.
• Jer'Michael Carter was wearing on his left foot.
• Fellow wide receiver Trell Harris was on crutches, Brent Venables already mentioned he had a procedure to "had a little cleanup" last week.
• David Stone was not in a helmet, but still same status as the previous media-viewing session on Saturday — involved but not participating.
• Ryan Fodje walked off the field after position groups began and never returned during the viewing window.
• Beau Jandreau was wearing a boot on his left foot.
• Caleb Nitta was in a helmet, but watching in position groups.
• Daniel Akinkunmi was still on a scooter.
• Fred Hinton was also off to the side watching in a helmet among offensive linemen.

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General Observations

• Danny Okoye broke the team down to dismiss players to their position drills.
• Jerimiah Newcombe was in the blue no-contact jersey and worked with the linebackers — he came on to back up Reggie Powers III as the back-up cheetah during situational scrimmages.
• Venables continued to spend a lot of time with the tight ends.
• During ball-security drills, he was emphasizing force on the player tasked with trying to smash the ball away from Jack Van Dorselear — "Hit the ball!"
• Jake Maikkula shows no signs of fatigue, comfortably the starting center and leading the charge out of huddles.
• Marcus James was in a blue no-contact jersey among the linebackers.
• Nigel Smith received consistent praise during position drills and made nice plays during situational scrimmages.
• DeZephen Walker has a low-center of gravity and very quick feet — received praise from running backs coach Deland McCullough running through dumbies.
• Jonathan Hatton is an upright runner, has great power and speed for his size, but McCullough got on him to keep his pad level down consistently — he runs similar to Alex Ross would more fluidity in his hips.
• Noah Best routinely took second reps behind Maikkula.
• E'Marion Harris received praise from Bill Bedenbaugh consistently.

Situational Scrimmage

The team went offense vs. defense in situational football.

• Starting offensive line (left to right) for the rushing period: Michael Fasusi, Eddy Pierre-Louis, Maikkula, Heath Ozaeta, Harris
• Starting wide receivers/tight ends: Manny Choice, Mackenzie Alleyene, Isaiah Sategna, Hayden Hansen
• Hatton and John Mateer in the backfield.
• Starting defensive line: Okoye, Smith, Trent Wilson, Taylor Wein
• Starting linebackers: Kip Lewis, James Nesta and Powers (cheetah)
• Starting defensive backs: Eli Bowen, Courtland Guillory, Michael Boganowski, Peyton Bowen
• Cole Sullivan came on during second team defense.
• Bowe Bentley showed some speed on QB keepers.
• Tate Sandell was 1-3 on field goal hurry-up drills, missed a 49-yard attempt wide right into a stiff wind.