Barfknecht: Big 12 teams aren't afraid to go green

The 2010 Big 12 Conference football season may soon draw the label “The Year of the Young 'uns.''

True freshmen are popping up on depth charts across the league in big numbers. And it's not just struggling programs looking for a bump.

Texas, a consensus preseason Top 10 team, has 13 rookies on its 44-man depth chart. Five more are redshirt freshmen.

Oklahoma, another Top 10 pick, has seven true freshmen. Oklahoma State has nine. Texas A&M plans to start three true freshmen in the offensive line, something unheard of.

And Missouri coach Gary Pinkel on Monday listed five true freshmen who will play, adding that six others are under consideration.

What's the deal? Something new?

Not necessarily, coaches say. It's more that year-round conditioning for high school football has become more widespread.

“They step into college in better physical condition than they used to,'' Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. “They are involved in offseason weight training in high school much like college players are.''

With the 85-man scholarship limit, injuries can quickly weaken a healthy-looking depth chart.

Oklahoma found out the hard way last year when stars such as quarterback Sam Bradford, tight end Jermaine Gresham and nearly three-fourths of the offensive line went down.

To build quality depth, OU coach Bob Stoops said, you need to regularly recruit well — which he thinks that the Sooners have done for 2010.

“It's been a great group (of freshmen),'' he said. “I really believe it's one of our best, if not the best. Time only tells that. It's a big group in numbers. They are all sharp, good kids. They've got size and speed. We've really been impressed with them.''

Once on campus, Stoops said, it becomes more about identifying rookies who can help instead of looking for redshirt candidates.

“All the guys in the two-deep are ready to play, and there are some others who are close to being ready,'' he said. “It's what I had hoped for and expected.''

Texas coach Mack Brown takes his somewhat green-around-the-edges depth chart to Reliant Stadium (home of the Houston Texans) on Saturday to face Rice. He'll watch his 13 true freshmen closely.

“You don't worry as much about them as players,'' Brown said, “because they are really good players or they wouldn't be in there.

“What you do worry about is how they will handle the opening game, how will they handle the crowd at Reliant and playing in a pro stadium, and how tired will they get. A lot of times, the anxiety of the first game for a freshman wears him out.''

Having that many true freshmen play early means that some veterans are on the sidelines fiddling disgustedly with their chin straps.

Stoops said he doesn't massage egos over playing time because the OU culture is that the best players play.

“It's always been that way here, and it always will be,'' he said. “But you also have to keep earning it, whether in practice or in games.

“Some guys have probably had their eyes opened a little bit and realize it's competitive.''

Chemistry and morale are on Brown's radar with 13 rookies in the mix.

“When some younger guys beat older guys out or take some of their playing time away,'' he said, “you never know how they are going to react and respond.

“You can't really tell until you play in a game. You get in the fourth quarter and you have some problems, everybody has to pull together.''

Woe is Mizzou

Until midway through this summer, an underrated Missouri team had quietly gone about its business of trying to become a darkhorse threat in the overall Big 12 football race.

Then all hell broke loose in August.

On Aug. 2, assistant coach Bruce Walker was arrested for DWI. On Aug. 22, junior linebacker Will Ebner was arrested for DWI. On Sunday, deep snapper and backup tight end Beau Brinkley was arrested for DWI.

Then Monday afternoon, starting senior tailback and honors candidate Derrick Washington — a team captain — was charged with felony deviate sexual assault.

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel was not a happy man Monday.

“First of all, I'm kind of embarrassed,'' he said. “We've worked real hard and built a program that has a very good reputation of being first class and disciplined. And we've taken a few hits.

“So the only way you're going to get that back is earn it back. That's what we intend to do. We're going to continue to do what we do. It has worked over the years, and we're not going to change.''

UT's big back

Mack Brown wasn't kidding when he said he wanted to institute a power running game at Texas.

The Longhorns' starting tailback Saturday will be 251-pound Cody Johnson. Not too long ago, the junior from Waller, Texas — nicknamed “Fat Boy'' — had 256 pounds on his 5-foot-11 frame.

“He has lost 5 percent of his body fat, and he's in really good shape,'' Brown said.

Coming out of spring practice, most expected the starter to be 5-10, 195-pound junior Fozzy Whittaker or 6-foot, 200-pound sophomore Tré Newton. But Johnson, who has three career starts and a 6-yard per-carry average, has prevailed early.

“Fozzy and Tré didn't do anything differently,'' Brown said. “It's just the power that Cody brings to us. And he can pass protect and catch the ball.

“With the power running attack we're looking at now and the downhill run, he's a real load when he goes straight ahead.''

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com

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