Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: A Big 12 Media Days primer

By Christopher Dukes

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 10: Head Coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys, left, and head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners speak in the middle of the field before the football game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 48-47. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 10: Head Coach Mike Gundy of the Oklahoma State Cowboys, left, and head coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners speak in the middle of the field before the football game at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 48-47. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 29: Josh Jacobs #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide carries the ball in the defense of Robert Barnes #20 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 29: Josh Jacobs #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide carries the ball in the defense of Robert Barnes #20 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Barnes and Parker have some ground to make up after Grinch heaped praise on young safeties Delarrin Turner-Yell and Patrick Fields, respectively. Both Barnes and Parker have starting experience in big games, but they will need to prove their skills translate into what Grinch wants to do and to do that, they must be back on the field.

Redmond is an interesting case. Coaches have been cautiously optimistic about him returning full force after some health issues (believed to be blood clots) derailed his freshman season. In only a few games last year Redmond showed why he could be a big difference maker with his quick-twitch ability to get into the backfield and create havoc.

He’s tailor-made for Grinch’s Speed D scheme and getting him on the field would be a big, big boost. Hopefully coaches can clear up his status a little.

Is Creed Humphrey ready to become a leader?

This time last year we were all asking ourselves if Humphrey was even going to be a starter, now the redshirt sophomore center enters the season as the only Sooner o-lineman on the roster to take a meaningful snap in the Crimson and Cream.

If he’s healthy (which judging by his inclusion in players Oklahoma is making available during  Big 12 Media Days, he is), he’ll have to establish leadership on an offensive line that is heavy on talent, but low on experience. Humphrey has All American potential in the middle as a player, but it will be his handling of the four guys around him that set Oklahoma’s ceiling in 2019.

This job will be slightly more difficult considering he missed all of spring practice with an injury.

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