Oklahoma's Linebacker Tradition

Wednesday, March 14th 2007, 10:20 pm

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Linebacker Ryan Reynolds missed all of last season for Oklahoma after tearing up his left knee, but a few little dings weren't going to keep him out of a springtime scrimmage.

OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables noted that Reynolds popped a shoulder and a finger out of their sockets today, but didn't miss a single repitition during the Sooners' first scrimmage of spring practice.

Venables calls Reynolds one of the most mentally toughest guys he's been around.

Reynolds, who'll be a sophomore this fall, is among a group competing to earn one of the most storied positions at one of college football's most vaunted programs. Playing linebacker at OU means following Brian Bosworth, Rocky Calmus, Teddy Lehman and
now, Rufus Alexander.

It's a position where the Sooners don't have much depth.

Venables has only seven scholarship players to coach there right now, when he'd rather have about 10 or 11, but he says he likes what he's seen through five practices this spring.