Oklahoma Sooners starters expected to practice ahead of CFP

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The Oklahoma Sooners went 4-0 in November and did so without arguably their best player, R Mason Thomas, for all but one half of one quarter of the Tennessee game.

Thomas injured his quadriceps muscle after picking up an Owen Heinecke forced fumble and running it back for a touchdown. Oklahoma went on to beat the Vols and run the table during "Red November" without their star pass rusher.

As Oklahoma gets set to host Alabama this Friday, things are trending positively for Thomas to make a return against the Crimson Tide. Speaking to the media on Monday, Brent Venables was asked if the team expected Thomas and starting center Jake Maikkula to participate in practice this week, and Venables simply said, "I do."

Getting both players back for the College Football Playoff after weeks of rest would be huge for the Sooners. Oklahoma's defensive line displayed the talent and depth to withstand the loss of Thomas, but he's been their best defensive player over the last two years and someone who can make game-changing plays in an instant.

Even after missing the last three-plus games, Thomas still finished the season as the Sooners' sack leader with 6.5. Facing Alabama, a team that's had most of its offensive success throwing the football, Thomas will be a huge addition back into the lineup.

Maikkula missed the season finale against LSU, forcing right guard Febechi Nwaiwu to move to center. Maikkula has been good in his first year as the starting center for the Sooners and is a veteran presence up front. With a group as young as Oklahoma's can be, having someone with as much experience as Maikkula back in the lineup is critical heading into the College Football Playoff.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Could R Mason Thomas, Jake Maikkula return for CFP?

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