Juco signee provides double Sooner solution

By John Hillman  |   Monday, February 02, 2009  |  Comments( 3 )

Oklahoma Sooners
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Even with Sam Bradford’s return, Oklahoma needs additional weapons to compete for the Big XII South title and national championship next season. The departure of Manny Johnson, Juaquin Iglesias, and Quentin Chaney left the Sooners without a speedy wide receiver.

If OU signs junior college transfer Cameron Kenney as expected next Wednesday, the missing component falls in place. Kenney, who runs a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, caught 83 passes for 1,193 yards in two seasons at Garden City (Kan.) Community College.

The Dacula, Ga., native originally selected Auburn. But with the dismissal of Tommy Tuberville, Kenney expanded his choices to South Carolina, Georgia, and Oklahoma. He announced OU as his top pick last week after making an official visit with the Bulldogs.

Bradford’s decision to play another year for the Sooners provided the major component in the 6-foot-2, 195-pound speedster’s commitment. He wanted to team with an established collegiate quarterback, and Georgia’s Matt Stafford opted to enter the NFL draft in April.

Kenney fell through the recruiting cracks as a high school senior. He played only one season of football at Dacula after switching from soccer. Lacking the necessary core courses for the NCAA, the wideout wound up in the junior college ranks at Garden City.

Kenney’s soccer background adds another desirable element for the Sooners. In high school, he boomed 45 of 55 kickoffs out of the end zone. In junior college, the receiver nailed an 82-yard punt, a 52-yard field goal, and succeeded on six out of eight fake punt attempts.

Oklahoma struggled in the kicking game last season. With 122 kickoffs, OU ranked 102nd in coverage, allowing an average of 23.84 yards per boot. The Sooners tallied only 15 touchbacks and gave up four returns for touchdowns, the highest number in the country. Jason Shipley’s 96-yard scamper keyed the Texas comeback victory in the Red River Rivalry.

Field goals proved another weakness for the Sooner in 2008. Jimmy Stevens connected on just 8 of 12 attempts with his longest going for 42 yards. Matt Moreland also contributed a failed 42-yard attempt in the Texas A&M game, his only effort of the season.

If all goes well, the Sooners could add another highly rated receiver to their 2009 signing class. Reuben Randle of Bastrop, La., has narrowed his choices to Oklahoma, LSU, and Alabama.

While recruiting gurus claim the Tigers have the inside track, Bob Stoops and Bradford will undoubtedly make the same pitch to Randle they gave Kenney. After all, what receiver wouldn’t want to catch passes from a quarterback who owns a Heisman Trophy?
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About John Hillman

John Hillman graduated from Baylor University in 1974 with a BBA in accounting and earned an MBA from Baylor in 1987. He worked for accounting firms until 1982 when he became the chief financial officer for an independent insurance claims adjusting service, a position he still holds today....
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