OU football rewind: Is Eric Gray an every-down back? He looked like one at Nebraska
NORMAN — Not many people thought Nebraska would knock off OU in Lincoln last Saturday.
But plenty thought it’d be close.
The Sooners, though, left no doubt, with a 49-14 thumping of the Cornhuskers to roll into Big 12 play undefeated.
Before the Sooners take on Kansas State on Saturday at home (7 p.m., Fox), here’s a look back at the win over Nebraska.
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1. Eric Gray: Gray didn’t look like much of an every-down back last season. But now, the Tennessee transfer is making good on the promise he showed before transferring. He had 113 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries against the Cornhuskers. He also performed well when he didn’t have the ball.
2. Brayden Willis: Willis’ value sometimes gets overlooked, so it takes plays like his 24-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Major to bring more attention to his game. But Willis was strong all around against the Cornhuskers, delivering several critical blocks to free teammates for long gains, and added two receptions of his own. Willis has shown he’s a worthy successor to the position after splitting time with Jeremiah Hall and Austin Stogner in recent years.
3. Key Lawrence: After missing a game due to injury, Lawrence was at his best against the Cornhuskers. He had six tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble. Lawrence earned a 91.5 grade from Pro Football Focus — the Sooners’ highest defensively so far this season. He particularly came through in coverage, where he allowed just two catches for minus-4 yards after catch.
4. Jaren Kanak: The freshman was put in a difficult situation after DaShaun White’s targeting ejection in the second quarter. In his first extended action, Kanak performed well. He did miss a couple tackles, including what would’ve been a big sack on the second play after White’s ejection, but all in all, it was a strong performance from the newcomer. Kanak led the Sooners with 10 tackles and forced a fumble.
5. Dillon Gabriel: Gabriel was far from perfect, but his 61-yard touchdown run began to turn the tide and he avoided costly mistakes that could’ve let Nebraska back into the game.
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Three key plays in Oklahoma vs. Nebraska
1. Willis and Farooq take Gabriel home. Nebraska defensive backs Tommi Hill and Marques Buford Jr. didn’t have much of a chance. On Gabriel’s 61-yard touchdown run to tie the game in the first quarter, Jalil Farooq locked up Hill, and Willis took Buford away from Gabriel to spring him free to finish off the touchdown.
“We have fun blocking,” said wide receiver Theo Wease, who was also involved in that play. “In our room, we have goals set, like how many knockdowns we want to get in the game. So we enjoy it. We enjoy everything about it, playing receiver.”
2. Mettaur through the end zone. Maybe it didn’t have an effect on the ultimate outcome of the play, but it made a point about the Sooners’ physical dominance of the Cornhuskers. On the first play of the second quarter, Marvin Mims caught an apparent 9-yard touchdown pass. Mims’ score was eventually changed to him being out inside the 1, but McKade Mettauer’s block left a mark. When Mims began celebrating in the back of the end zone, Mettauer was still locked up with a Nebraska linebacker — driving him out of the back of the end zone. Mettauer struggled a bit early in the season but had his best game with the Sooners, and this block was his signature play.
3. Parker hits the mark. With the Sooners up 21-7 early in the second quarter, Gabriel hit Daniel Parker on third-and-5. Parker was wrapped up by Nebraska’s Chris Kolarevic well short of the first down. But Parker, the Missouri transfer, dragged Kolarevic close to the mark, then extended his arm as he was finally being brought down to pick up the first down. Four plays later, Willis hit Mims for a 24-yard touchdown pass and the rout was on.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Sooners' Eric Gray looks like an every-down running back
