Will R Mason Thomas play for OU football vs Alabama in CFP? Sooners offer injury update
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NORMAN — Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said Monday offensive lineman Jake Maikkula and defensive end R Mason Thomas will participate in practices this week ahead of the Sooners‘ first-round College Football Playoff game against Alabama.
Thomas hasn’t played since injuring his quad when he returned a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee on Nov. 1.
Maikkula was dealing with an infection that caused him to be hospitalized for a few days and miss the Sooners’ regular-season finale against LSU. In his absence, Febechi Nwaiwu slid over from his starting guard spot to center against the Tigers.
“(The time off) has been beneficial for the whole team, just to get a little healthier,” Venables said. “It’s that time of year for everybody in college football, where everybody can benefit from a little less time on their feet and a little more time not practicing as well. It comes at a great, great time for us.”
OU running backs Tory Blaylock, Xavier Robinson ‘ready to play’
OU football running backs Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson have been playing through ailments for the past several weeks.
Venables even opened the door to the possibility of other players helping out, perhaps like Jaydn Ott or Taylor Tatum ahead of the LSU game. But, Blaylock and Robinson have never wavered about playing and have continued to be the players the Sooners trust the most.
The time off from when the regular season ended to Friday will be extra helpful for OU’s lead backs.
“Those two dudes are really, really tough, so I don’t think they would tell you any different, they’d say they’re just ready to play,” offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said. “It’s been good being able to get them out there, maybe take a little bit off their body, maybe with either shorter practices here or there, where we have days in vests where there’s just not a whole lot of physical contact going on.”
Venables said Monday now that the regular season is over and playoff games don’t count toward redshirts running back Jovantae Barnes could potentially play a role against the Crimson Tide.
Tate Sandell unsure about return to OU next season
Following becoming OU’s first Lou Groza Award winner, which is given to the nation’s best kicker, Tate Sandell was asked if he’s started to consider a return for his final collegiate season next year or entering the NFL Draft.
“Not really,” Sandell said. “I’m really just focused on playing Alabama on Friday.”
Sandell has likely done enough to garner NFL attraction.
The UTSA transfer made 23 of his 24 field-goal attempts for the Sooners during the regular season. He has made each of his last 23 attempts, a single-season program and SEC record.
“All those questions will be talked about with all of my guys after the season,” Sandell said.
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
OU vs. Alabama
KICKOFF: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman (ABC/ESPN)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football injury updates for R Mason Thomas, Jake Maikkula for CFP
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