Jalen Saunders vs. NCAA eligibility rules...He won his appeal!

[OU_Sooners75]

Today, Jalen Saunders is eligible to play for OU, and will not have to bypass this season.

He can start playing immediately.

He won his appeal!

[MsProudSooner]

So do you let him play or go ahead and redshirt him since he's already missed 4 games this year? Seems a waste to play him this year.

[Widescreen]

Thanks, NCAA, you pieces of crap. They couldn't have made that call 6 weeks ago?

Anyway, Stoops has said he may play this weekend. Someone is about to lose some reps. I suspect it will be Metoyer.

[MountainOkie]

So do you let him play or go ahead and redshirt him since he's already missed 4 games this year? Seems a waste to play him this year.

Man he's really good though and has already proven that against D-1 competition. I'd want to keep him as long as I could if I had him though. Wouldn't even want to miss out on four games.

Throw some bombs to that boy!

[BoulderSooner79]

Can he fill in on the OL ?

[Widescreen]

We played Finch his freshman year after he missed like the first 5 games due to injury.

[StoopTroup]

If you were Jalen, what would you want? What would make you happy? Sitting out a year?

[OU_Sooners75]

Greg, I can say from experience, sitting out a year sucks (red shirted my freshman year)! So, if I was him, I would want to play.

He would be a very good addition to the Slot. Put Stills on the outside. Shepard and Saunders in the slot. Brown, Neal, and Metoyer at the other wideout.

Very good rotation IMO.

[TahoeSOONER]

Shepard gives the youth at that position and a deep WR core just got deeper. Get him on the field and stretch it with his speed.

[OU_Sooners75]

Oh, Kick off returners:

Saunders and Brown

Punt Returner:

Brown/Saunders (you can interchange these guys on punt returns, they are both great at it.)

[Widescreen]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSR7uV2ZjMQ

[MamaMia]

He didn't go through all this NCAA stuff to not play. Here's a photo and an article about it.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20121010_92_0_NORMAN308151

NCAA rules OU wide receiver Jalen Saunders immediately eligible


By From Staff Reports
Published: 10/10/2012 6:23 PM
Last Modified: 10/10/2012 6:32 PM

NORMAN — The Oklahoma coaching staff received an unexpected surprise on Wednesday afternoon.

OU wide receiver Jalen Saunders, a transfer from Fresno State, has been cleared by the NCAA to play this season.

The junior had filed an appeal to the NCAA to waive the one-year period to sit out as a transfer. Saunders will eligible to play in Saturday’s 11 a.m. game against Texas.

“We found out mid-practice and switched him over from scout team to the 1s and 2s,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “He’s catching up right now. I anticipate him helping.

“We can’t determine today what he’ll be able to do. But he’s kept himself up with everything we’re doing. He’s a really good player. I’m hopeful that he will be able to help and play.”

Saunders led Fresno State in receiving last season with 50 catches, 1,065 yards and 12 touchdowns to earn all-WAC honors. He chose to leave Fresno State after coach Pat Hill was terminated.

Saunders averaged 21.4 yards per reception for the Bulldogs in 2011.

“He’s quick, got a great sense of space and the ability to get open,” Stoops said.

Saunders (5-9, 160) is expected to be a slot receiver and has the ability to return punts. The slot position has been led by veteran Kenny Stills and has witnessed the emergence by true freshman Sterling Shepard.

[Widescreen]

I think one of the reasons he left Fresno was because he didn't want to play slot. I suspect we will use him a lot on the outside.

[JLEW1818]

More the better

[OU_Sooners75]

I think one of the reasons he left Fresno was because he didn't want to play slot. I suspect we will use him a lot on the outside.

I think his complaint was that the new coaches wanted him to play slot in a system that goes outside more, and that he didn't want to return punts.


I would suspect he would be just fine in the slot at OU knowing how importantt that position is in our offense.


Besides, he can't get any more transfers and be eligible, so what he gonna do? Quit?

[SapulpaSooner]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD94dVu8lqQ

[goingoneight]

The decision isn't a hard one. Play for Fresno State or play for OU. Seriously... that's like asking if a guy wanted to play for Tulsa or Alabama.

[MountainOkie]

Are we trying to put all our best receivers at the slot? Stills-Shepard-Saunders.

Are is that just where the WRs with a last name that begins with "S" play? ;)

[OU_Sooners75]

SL: Shepard/Saunders/Finch
WR: Brown/Neal
WR: Stills/Metoyer
RB: Williams/Millard/Clay
TE: Green/Grissom

Some pretty damn good weapons for Landry Jones to give the ball too.

[picasso]

Play him now!

[Collier11]

the season is young enough and we still have enough to play for, if he wants to play then play him

[goingoneight]

He can't redshirt IIRC. Why the hell wouldn't he want to play? There's blood on the water with all the inexperienced guys in the WR corps. If ever he wants to make an impact on CFB again, he might better get after it really quick like.

[8timechamps]

Wow! GREAT NEWS.

He's up to speed as he has been practicing with the team since the summer. Should get his first action this weekend! Talk about a change, when Jaz and Trey were suspended, we looked razor thin. Now, we have an embarrassment of riches at the position.

Uh Oh Bevo!

[kevpks]

Your average Horn fan after he scores a TD this weekend:

http://imageshack.us/a/img688/1436/tinfoilhatu.jpg

[Soonerfan88]

As stated before, he left Fresno because of being moved to the slot and OU promised he would play outside. He may not have a lot of height but his speed makes him very dangerous outside.

[OU_Sooners75]

He can't redshirt IIRC. Why the hell wouldn't he want to play? There's blood on the water with all the inexperienced guys in the WR corps. If ever he wants to make an impact on CFB again, he might better get after it really quick like.

He has 3 years to play 2 years.

So yeah, he can red shirt.

[FirstandGoal]

*bump*

[kevpks]

I can see why he's playing. The dude is fast and a elusive.

[StoopTroup]

There's blood on the water with all the inexperienced guys in the WR corps.

I think after this weekend....this ^ statement is true and after having a taste of delicious bevo over an open fire....he'll want to play every down he can until he's done at OU.

[hawaii 5-0]

I like Saunders alot. He's much like Brown.

They have good hands, create space, like to run after the catch and don't like to go down after first contact.

I only pray they don't get held up and someone flies in and takes their heads off.

5-0