Stormin in Norman
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OU football preseason watch: Erick Wren a candidate for Rimington Trophy

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - OCTOBER 15: An Oklahoma Sooners cheerleader performs during the game against the Kansas State Wildcats October 15, 2016 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Kansas State 38-17. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) *** local caption ***
NORMAN, OK - OCTOBER 15: An Oklahoma Sooners cheerleader performs during the game against the Kansas State Wildcats October 15, 2016 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Kansas State 38-17. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) *** local caption *** /
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On a day that stands out as perhaps the slowest news day on the entire sports calendar, the news is just beginning to get revved up regarding OU football and the 2017 college football season.

This is like the solar eclipse of the sports year. It is perhaps the only day or two every year in which there is no regular-season game activity in any of the major professional sports leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA or NHL), and it is between seasons on the college sports calendar.

There is no stoppage or slowdown in the OU football program, however, as preparations are building toward the preseason practice period and the kickoff of a new college season.

Earlier today it was announced that five Sooners had been named to the 2017 Preseason All-Big 12 Team and that fifth-year-senior quarterback Baker Mayfield is the conference’s preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Mayfield was also the preseason choice a year ago for Offensive Play of the Year. The award ultimately went to his Sooner teammate Dede Westbrook.

Also, Erick Wren joined several of his teammates who this week have been named to preseason watch lists for the major individual awards to be conferred after the season in college football. Wren, a redshirt senior is one of 71 preseason nominees, including eight from the Big 12, for the 2017 Rimington Trophy, recognizing the best center in college football.

Wren made his first career start against TCU in the Sooners fourth game last season and was awarded a scholarship for the first time shortly before that game. The 6-foot, 1-inch, 329-pound center started all 9 of the remaining OU games in 2017.

On Thursday, the Big 12 Preseason Football Media Poll will be released, with the Sooners expected to be the preseason favorite to will their 11th conference championship. Since 2011, the first season the Big 12 did away with a two-division format, Oklahoma has been projected as the conference favorite in four of the six seasons (2011, 2012, 2014 and 2016), second once (2013) and third once (2015).

All of these announcements are a lead up to Big 12 Football Media Days, which gets underway next week in Dallas. ,

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