Stormin in Norman
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Five Oklahoma Football Sleepers to Watch for in 2016

By Chip Rouse

Sep 19, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Jarvis Baxter (1) runs for a touchdown after a reception while being pursued by Tulsa Golden Hurricane defensive end Derrick Alexander (54) during the third quarter at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Jarvis Baxter (1) runs for a touchdown after a reception while being pursued by Tulsa Golden Hurricane defensive end Derrick Alexander (54) during the third quarter at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 3, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Eric Striker (19) tackles West Virginia Mountaineers safety KJ Dillon (9) on punt return in the first quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Eric Striker (19) tackles West Virginia Mountaineers safety KJ Dillon (9) on punt return in the first quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Freshman Linebacker Caleb Kelly

Freshman linebacker Caleb Kelly has not played a single down of college ball, and Oklahoma already is counting on him to be a solid contributor in the 2016 season. Kelly comes from the recruiting-rich state of California, from which the Sooners have had considerable success bringing in top talent in recent seasons.

ESPN.com rates Kelly a four-star prospect and the seventh-best player in the country at his position coming out of high school. He is No. 85 on the ESPN Top 300 list.

Kelly chose the Sooners over Oregon and Notre Dame. Oklahoma lost three starting linebackers from last year’s Big 12 championship team, so the Fresno, Calif., native will get the opportunity to make an immediate contribution in the middle of the OU defense in the coming season. Eric Striker, Dominique Alexander and Devante Bond all left after last season for prospective careers in the NFL.

Kelly, one of the top-ranked players in the Oklahoma 2016 recruiting class, played in the U.S. Army All-America game for high school seniors last January and was the 2015 winner of the Butkus Award as the nation’s best high school linebacker. His arrival in Norman couldn’t come at a better time.

Sooner fans will no doubt be hearing much more about Kelly this season and for the next couple of years.

Next: Redshirt Freshman Running Back Rodney Anderson

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