Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Status of suspended Sooners remains a mystery

By Chip Rouse

Dec 7, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Charlie Brewer (12)is pressured in the pocket by Oklahoma Sooners defensive end Ronnie Perkins (7) in the 2019 Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2019; Arlington, TX, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Charlie Brewer (12)is pressured in the pocket by Oklahoma Sooners defensive end Ronnie Perkins (7) in the 2019 Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Game six of the 2020 season was expected to be the time that Oklahoma football would return three key reinforcements to its active roster.

The Sooners play their sixth game of the season this weekend at Texas Tech, but the status of suspended players Ronnie Perkins, Rhamondre Stevenson and Trejan Bridges remains unclear.

The three players were suspended just ahead of Oklahoma’s appearance in the College Football Playoff national semifinal game with LSU after failing a drug test. The failed test was for marijuana. According to NCAA rules, failing a test for marijuana use subjects the player or players in question to a suspension equal to up to half the season in the sport played. That would be six games in a normal 12-game college schedule.

Although the 2020 season has been shortened because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was still believed the tree suspended Sooners would be eligible to return this week, accounting for the one game last season and the first five games of the 2020 season.

When asked several different times this week by reporters about the status, however, Sooner head coach Lincoln Riley said:

"“I don’t have one. This process is not a clear cut as you guys think or as I thought it was going to be. I’m trying to play games…not trying to do any of that. I do not know what their status is right now.”"

Perkins, who is arguably Oklahoma’s best returning defensive player, reportedly received a special NCAA appeal the week of the Iowa State game, and it was believed he might be back sooner than expected. He was on the sidelines at Iowa State but did not play. For the past couple of weeks Riley has said that the clearance process regarding Perkins was still ongoing and taking longer than first expected.

Perkins was not on the sidelines, however, for either the Texas game or last week’s contest at TCU.

So, who knows what’s going on with this situation? There appears to be more involved that what has been reported to this point. It might be day to day, although from the sound of things it seems this is going to go on a while longer. How long is anybody’s guess. But Riley doesn’t appear too optimistic.

There’s no question that the three players involved would be valuable additions and could definitely have an impact on the Oklahoma performance going forward in this most unusual college football season.

Perkins, a junior defensive end, was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 First Team. He was credited with six sacks and 13 tackles for loss last season.

With Trey Sermon transferring to Ohio State and Kennedy Brooks opting out of the 2020 season, Stevenson was the only returning running back with significant game experience. Stevenson rushed for 515 yards in 2019, including six touchdowns. More importantly, he led the nation, averaging 8.0 yards per carry.

Bridges, a sophomore was one of three five-star Sooner receivers in the 2019 recruiting class that also included quarterback Spencer Rattler. He contributed seven catches for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his freshman season.

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