Preseason
After the previous year's 8–4 season, the Sooners looked to return to past success in 2006. Standout running back Adrian Peterson came into the season healthy and was also on the Maxwell Award watch list. Star linebacker Rufus Alexander, (a Bednarik Award hopeful) returned for his senior campaign as did defensive ends C.J. Ah You, Larry Birdine, and Calvin Thibodeaux (Ah You and Birdine were Ted Hendricks Award hopefuls) Reggie Smith was also named to the Jim Thorpe Award watch list.
Nearly all major sports publications had the Sooners in the preseason Top 10. Some had the Sooners as the preseason No. 1 pick including Athlon, Phil Steele and Gold Sheet. The team had a lot of young talent this year. The high school scouting website Rivals.com ranked Oklahoma's 2005 recruiting class number one in the nation and the 2006 recruiting class number nine. Most of 2006 signees redshirted and did not play in 2006. When combined with statements from the Oklahoma coaching staff, the Sooners expected to be back in contention for the national title this year. On July 24, 2006, the Sooners were a 5–1 favorite to win the National Championship.
On August 2, 2006, quarterback Rhett Bomar and offensive lineman J.D. Quinn, both sophomores, were dismissed from the team. It was reported that they violated NCAA regulations regarding receiving extra compensation. It was later determined Bomar received US$7,406.88 and Quinn $8,137.17. The loss of these two key players affected the team's placement in many publications' preseason polls as well as their chances of winning a national championship. The team turned to starting quarterback Paul Thompson (a converted wide receiver in 2005) and backup Joey Halzle to lead the team.
After investigating the Bomar scandal, on July 11, 2007, the NCAA announced a finding of "failure to monitor" the employment of student athletes and handed out penalties. These included a verdict that all wins from the 2005 Oklahoma season were vacated, changing the team's record from 8–4 to 0–4 for that year. The university of Oklahoma has announced that it will appeal the finding and the vacatur of the wins from the 2005 season. The wins were eventually restored.
| 2006 Recruits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
| Curtis Bailey OL |
Dallas, TX | David W Carter HS | 6 ft 6.5 in (1.99 m) | 347.5 lb (157.6 kg) | 5.8 | Dec 6, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 78 | ||||||
| Jeremy Beal DE/DT |
Carrollton, TX | Creekview HS | 6 ft 2.5 in (1.89 m) | 244 lb (111 kg) | 4.7 | Dec 18, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 80 | ||||||
| Chase Beeler OL |
Jenks, OK | Jenks HS | 6 ft 3.5 in (1.92 m) | 275 lb (125 kg) | 5.34 | Jan 1, 2006 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 75 | ||||||
| Sam Bradford QB |
Oklahoma City, OK | Putnam City North HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.67 | May 24, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 77 | ||||||
| Cory Brandon OL |
Corsicana, TX | Corsicana HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 262.5 lb (119.1 kg) | 5.2 | Jul 5, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 79 | ||||||
| Chris Brown RB |
Alexandria, LA | Alexandria Senior HS | 5 ft 10.25 in (1.78 m) | 193 lb (88 kg) | 4.48 | Dec 5, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 78 | ||||||
| Brandon Caleb WR |
Fork Union, VA | Fork Union Military Academy | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 4.58 | Aug 12, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 78 | ||||||
| Quinton Carter S/ATH |
North Las Vegas, NV | Cheyenne HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 178 lb (81 kg) | 4.55 | Dec 19, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 77 | ||||||
| Brandon Crow LB |
Comanche, OK | Comanche HS | 6 ft 1.5 in (1.87 m) | 212 lb (96 kg) | 4.66 | Nov 2, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 77 | ||||||
| Dominique Franks CB/DB |
Tulsa, OK | Union HS | 5 ft 11.5 in (1.82 m) | 181 lb (82 kg) | 4.44 | Nov 7, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 74 | ||||||
| Jermaine Gresham TE |
Ardmore, OK | Ardmore HS | 6 ft 6.5 in (1.99 m) | 228 lb (103 kg) | 4.7 | Feb 1, 2006 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 81 | ||||||
| Joey Halzle QB |
Huntington Beach, CA | Golden Beach CC | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.58 | Dec 11, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: | ||||||
| Tim Johnson DE |
Homewood, IL | NE Oklahoma A&M | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | 4.7 | Jul 29, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: | ||||||
| Pryce Macon DE/DT |
Corpus Christi, TX | Carroll HS | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 254 lb (115 kg) | 4.78 | Jun 30, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 80 | ||||||
| Mossis Madu RB/ATH |
Norman, OK | Norman HS | 6 ft 0.5 in (1.84 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 4.49 | Dec 20, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 78 | ||||||
| Gerald McCoy DT |
Oklahoma City, OK | Southeast HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | 4.95 | Feb 1, 2006 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 89 | ||||||
| Eric Mensik TE |
Rosenberg, TX | B. F. Terry HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 231.5 lb (105.0 kg) | 4.87 | Dec 11, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 78 | ||||||
| Sherrone Moore OL |
El Dorado, KS | Butler County CC | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 305 lb (138 kg) | 5.2 | Jan 7, 2006 |
| Scout: Rivals: | ||||||
| DeMarco Murray RB |
Las Vegas, NV | Bishop Gorman HS | 6 ft 0.5 in (1.84 m) | 184 lb (83 kg) | 4.5 | Jan 7, 2006 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 92 | ||||||
| Jonathan Nelson CB/DB |
Arlington, TX | Mansfield Summit HS | 5 ft 11.5 in (1.82 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | 4.46 | Jul 8, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 81 | ||||||
| Chris Patterson LB |
Chicago, IL | Northeastern Oklahoma A&M | 6 ft 2.5 in (1.89 m) | 223 lb (101 kg) | 4.45 | Aug 8, 2003 |
| Scout: Rivals: | ||||||
| Chad Roark OL |
Ada, OK | Ada HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 287 lb (130 kg) | 5.18 | Oct 25, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 78 | ||||||
| Daniel Tabon LB/ATH |
Altus, OK | Altus HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | 4.45 | Dec 20, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 40 | ||||||
| Adrian Taylor DT |
Mansfield, TX | Mansfield HS | 6 ft 4.5 in (1.94 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | 5.35 | Jan 9, 2006 |
| Scout: Rivals: | ||||||
| Adron Tennell WR |
Irving, TX | Irving HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 183 lb (83 kg) | 4.49 | Jul 21, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 85 | ||||||
| Brandon Walker OL |
Detroit, MI | Coffeyville CC | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 315 lb (143 kg) | 5.25 | Jan 28, 2006 |
| Scout: Rivals: | ||||||
| Malcolm Williams S |
Grand Prairie, TX | South Grand Prairie HS | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 174 lb (79 kg) | 4.51 | Jan 14, 2006 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 80 | ||||||
| Trent Williams OL |
Longview, TX | Longview HS | 6 ft 4.5 in (1.94 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | 5.33 | Dec 11, 2005 |
| Scout: Rivals: ESPN grade: 76 | ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: t7 Rivals: 9 | ||||||
Sources:
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Read more about this topic: 2006 Oklahoma Sooners Football Team