Photo by Zach Butler

Sooners get ready before kickoff against Nebraska Nov. 1. OU went 12-2 and won the Big 12 Championship in 2008. On Saturday, OU looks forward to the 2009 season in their annual Red-White spring game.

The Sooners cap off spring practice with the annual Red-White game at 1:15 p.m. Saturday.

Although the return of the Heisman trophy winner, three All-American players and four All-Big 12 players forecasts a promising future for the Sooners, OU has been focusing on concerns this spring, weighing heavily on the offense.

Last season, OU had the highest-scoring offense in modern college football. Additionally, the offense featured a solid offensive line that kept sophomore quarterback Bradford virtually untouchable.

With the loss of four of the five starting linemen and three receivers, the offense has been working to fill some major holes.

Junior offensive lineman Brian Lepak, a walk-on transfer from Colorado State, is one of the new additions to the unit.

“Brian does a great job,” Stoops said. “A really great guy, works hard, great attitude. He really fits in well and is going to help us.”

Running backs redshirt freshman Jermie Calhoun and sophomore Justin Johnson are getting a lot of snaps this spring.

“I think both running backs are really coming along and showing poise,” head coach Bob Stoops said. “[Johnson and Calhoun] are showing that they’re really seeing the field and doing the things that [assistant coach Josh Heupel and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson] want them to do.”

Without sophomore running backs DeMarco Murray and Mossis Madu and junior Chris Brown this spring, Calhoun and Johnson are the position’s stars for the offseason. Murray is recovering from surgery, Brown is out as a precaution and Madu is learning the slot receiver position.

“You can tell they’re getting more and more comfortable and they’re really starting to look good,” Stoops said.

Defensive backs junior Quentin Carter and sophomore Sam Proctor will likely step up as safeties this spring after OU lost starting safeties Nic Harris and Lendy Holmes to graduation last season.

“[Proctor] still has some plays that he needs to avoid here and there but that’s natural,” Stoops said. ”That’s why we just have to keep snapping the ball, but he’s making some good improvement.”

Carter started as safety in two games last season, and both starting cornerbacks from last year return.

“Unit secondary is doing well,” Proctor said. “We have returning starters [cornerbacks] Brian Jackson and Dominique franks. Me and Quentin Carter stepped in this spring and have done a pretty good job communicating with each other.

“We want to be physical and want to step in and do what we can do to help our team get to championship level.”

Proctor excelled last spring, leading the team in tackles during the spring game, however was redshirted in the fall.

“You just have to stay focused, that’s the biggest thing I learned about my redshirt year,” Proctor said. “It’s one thing to have a focused spring or focused summer but playing this game you have to remain focused every day of the week, and [the coaches] are watching for us. So that was my life lesson, remain focused.”

The linebacking trio from last season is back, including redshirt freshman linebacker Travis Lewis, who led the team in tackles last year.

Junior linebacker Kennan Clayton, who is hoping to recover from an ankle injury before Saturday, expects the corps to improve before the spring game.

“Me personally, I just expect the linebacking corps to step up,” Clayton said. “I’m pretty sure that on Saturday we will feel like there’s a point to be proven with the linebacking corps.”

The offense and defense will face each other this Saturday, following the Varsity O Legend’s flag football game, which will begin at 12:15 p.m.

Also prior to the game, Sooner fans will have the opportunity to take a picture with the Heisman trophy in Heisman park.

The Red-White game is set to kickoff at 1:15 p.m. at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Students get in free, and general admission tickets are $10.

The Sooners’ 2009 season-opener is against BYU September 5th in the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlinghton, Texas.

“2009 is a long year,” Proctor said. “You have to play every day of it.”