Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Four who missed out the most on spring practice

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 07: A general view of Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium before the football game between the South Dakota Coyotes and Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 07: A general view of Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium before the football game between the South Dakota Coyotes and Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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The 2020 Oklahoma football team was one day into spring practice when all Big 12 sports activities ground to a halt as a protective measure against the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus.

Since that time, all spring sports activities, including the annual Red-White Spring Game, have been cancelled, and no one knows at this time when organized on-campus activities will resume. One thing we do know is that spring practice, which is traditionally capped by the annual Spring Game, helps us sort through some of the questions hanging over the upcoming season and get an early look at how the problems are being addressed.

It also provides a preview of the player competition and position battles on both offense and defense.

Lincoln Riley said in a conference call last week that if the players were allowed back on campus by summer, the team could be ready for the season with 15 to 20 practice days. It might not be the best football to watch at the start, but it will ramp up rather quickly.

“First thing is going to be getting the players back on campus.” Riley said. “Assessing where they’re at from a physical conditioning standpoint. Then I think you map it out from there.

“You’re going to have to build in time to get to the point physically to be ready to practice, then build in enough practice time to be ready to play,” he said.

The Sooner head coach did note, however, that  teams in transition — in other words, teams with coaching changes, roster turnover and quarterback competitions — will be at a disadvantage in the absence of spring practice drills.

Here are four Sooner players who stand to be disadvantaged more than most by having spring practice activities cancelled:

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