LB key to Sooner success
Usually hearing that a freshman linebacker who had never played a down of college football was injured in pre-season drills would hardly make news, but when it happened last week in Norman my first thought was Oklahoma’s hopes of a return to a Big 12 championship and BCS appearance were hanging by a thin thread.
Freshman Tom Wort was expected to play a key back-up role at middle linebacker to Ryan Reynolds, whose injuries last year cost the Sooners a win against Texas and greatly hampered their ability to lasso Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow in the national championship game. His promise made dependence upon a rehabbed Reynolds less critical and the possibility that Senior Mike Balogun’s eligibility is doomed by a stint in a semi-pro league less likely to expose the Sooners’ weakness on defense.
But Wort suffered a torn ACL and is out for the season. Austin Box will be moved from outside linebacker to the middle linebacker spot as a result. Balogun remains practicing, but his future may be dependent upon a Cleveland County judge (who is considering Balogun’s lawsuit against the NCAA).
All in all, the middle linebacker remains the key to success. One more injury and Oklahoma will be hard pressed to get to Arlington to play the north division leader, much less appear in another BCS game.