Four Sooners with impressive performances against Louisiana Tech
The offensive line was as good as expected.
The Oklahoma defensive line played well, too.
And yes, it was just Louisiana Tech, but quarterback Trevor Knight did was he was supposed to do -- including sliding and avoiding being tackled.
OU had no problems with the Bulldogs. We saw that coming, but here are four players who surprised a bit on Saturday for the Sooners:
1. Caleb Gastelum, LB
Before this season, the last time we saw the senior walk-on linebacker, he was getting blown back by Oklahoma State in the Bedlam game.
That wasn't the case against the Bulldogs. Not only did Gastelum play, but he was put into a tough spot, coming in after Jordan Evans was ejected for a targeting call in the first half. Already thin at the linebacker spot as the Sooners deal with Frank Shannon possibly being out for the year, Gastelum moved from a special teams player to the spotlight.
Gastelum played nearly the entire game and had three tackles, one for a loss and a near interception.
Obviously, the Sooners would like to see the more athletic, more versatile and more impressive Evans running the defense from the linebacker spot, but Gastelum showed he belonged. He's played more than 30 games for the Sooners, but Saturday he played a bigger role and he didn't disappoint.
"It's something I've been mentally getting ready for," Gastelum said. "You never want to see a teammate come out like that, but that's why it's so important to be prepared."
The Sooners better be prepared at linebacker. If Evans gets hurt and something happens to Gastelum, they may be out of options if they are going to not play Frank Shannon.
2. Jordan Thomas, CB
At a position that the Sooners needed a lot of answers, Thomas has shown he belongs.
Thomas changed his commitment from Northwestern to Oklahoma because of his interest in oil and gas and engineering. Now he's playing at cornerback ahead of some more experienced players. Thomas had four tackles on Saturday.
"I just make sure I'm taking care of all my business in the class and on the field," Thomas said. "It's been fun.
Thomas is behind Julian Wilson at corner, opposite Zack Sanchez.
3. Jeffrey Mead, WR
Like Thomas, Mead is another freshman who surprised. While the wide receiver position has a lot of new faces, Mead was one who was looking to be headed to a redshirt season. Instead, he got in the first game against Louisiana Tech.
"Who wouldn't like that, right?" Mead said of getting some early playing time. "I'm really happy, but I've still got a lot of work to go. I've still got to put on weight, still catch better balls in traffic, things like that. But right now I'm excited, I really am."
Mead looks more like a basketball player than a football player at 6-foot-6, 184 pounds. He said he's been trying to put on weight and eating as often as he can â constantly, he said.
Mead is working behind Durron Neal and is competing with Jordan Smallwood and KJ Young for playing time. Young and Smallwood are both redshirt freshman.
4. Samaje Perine, RB
Another freshman, and you have to be surprised, not at his playing time, but at the fact he didn't disappoint. At all.
Sooner coaches talked up the freshman all camp long and what happened in the first game? Well, Perine came through. He carried it 13 times for 77 yards in a game where Alex Ross and Keith Ford started in front of him. Maybe he played because it was Louisiana Tech, but with the way coaches have shown an interest in him, plus the loss of Joe Mixon for the year, it appears Perine will be on the field a great deal this year. His 13 carries on Saturday was a team high.
Ford had four catches as well as nine carries and Ross had an 80-yard kickoff return, but Perine (5-11, 243) seems to be the most-gifted of the three, athletically.
Follow Andrew Gilman on Twitter: @andrewgilmanOK
