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NORMAN — It’s no coincidence that Oklahoma’s protection confirmed some stability earlier than Billy Bowman received damage. And it’s not a coincidence that the Sooners performed one among their greatest defensive video games of the 12 months Saturday at Iowa State with Bowman again in the lineup.
“It was good to have him back,” defensive coordinator Ted Roof stated on Monday, “because he’s one of the best football players on our team.”
Per Pro Football Focus, Bowman performed 44 of the Sooners’ 84 defensive snaps at Iowa State after sustaining a sprained MCL at TCU.
“It was great going out there with my teammates and competing again,” Bowman stated Monday night time after apply.
“My goal was to come back after the bye week and I did that. I was in the training room attacking it and everything.”
Bowman wears a brace on the knee and possibly will for the remainder of the season. But he’s full go, no restrictions.
“He’s been busting his butt, trying to get himself back,” head coach Brent Venables stated Saturday after the sport. “I don’t like seeing DBs back there with a big ol’ brace on. But our doctors cleared him, based on how the week went. Can always have a setback.
“But he’s really done a great job in his rehab. Really just kind of ran around on his own Monday. Tuesday, took a little bit of reps. Wednesday, a little bit more. Thursday, about the same. Felt great. Responded to three or four days of wear and tear, no swelling and things of that nature. Good to have him back. Be good to have him back when he doesn’t have a brace on.”
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“The brace,” Bowman stated, “I just wear it. I like it, actually, for comfort and for stability. I can go out there and play without it, but why take that risk? Somebody can fall on my knee or something like that. I just wear it for stability. I like it. It’s that type of deal.”
So Bowman remains to be working his means again, however his presence was felt by the Sooners at Jack Trice Stadium.
During Bowman’s absence, the OU protection struggled in losses to TCU and Texas and even had troubles in a win over Kansas.
Senior Justin Broiles and junior Key Lawrence received most of the work, and seniors Justin Harrington and Trey Morrison labored in as effectively. Even freshman Robert Spears-Jennings received some high quality snaps.
But Bowman lends one thing to the protection that appeared missing with out him. It isn’t straightforward to outline, apart from different positions appear to be steadier when he’s on the area.
“It certainly helps,” Roof stated. “At the same time, the positives that came out of that were some of the young guys got valuable game reps, and there’s no substitute for that.”
That’ll be vital as OU enters November on a two-game profitable streak. The Sooners (5-3 total, 2-3 Big 12) proceed their resurgence this week with a 2 p.m. house sport in opposition to defending Big 12 champion Baylor (5-3, 3-2).
Roof stated Bowman “practiced a couple days” earlier than the Iowa State sport, so having him again was a bonus. It’s particularly good for what Roof calls “still a very young player, he’s certainly young in the system” to knock off some rust for the Sooners’ ending stretch.
“It felt natural,” Bowman stated. “It kind of felt a little bit better than when I was playing before my injury.”
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