Once more, Sooners experienced numerous injuries…..
Following practice on Monday night, Oklahoma coach Brent Venables provided an injury report, and it was not good.
With what Venables described as an ankle sprain, offensive guard McKade Mettauer departed the Texas game wearing a protective boot on his left foot. “Best-case scenario for him will be back sooner rather than later,” Venables stated.
For star wide receiver Andrel Anthony, the news was not nearly as encouraging, though.
Anthony, who went down with a leg injury in the fourth quarter, “is going to have to have season-ending surgery,” according to Venables.
It is difficult, Venables remarked. You feel terrible for him. We have other guys, but you despise Andrel for his efforts. He played a major role in our success in reaching the 6-0 mark. But he still has all of his best football ahead of him. After this surgery, he will have a fantastic career.”
Cornerback Gentry Williams “is good, he practiced today,” according to Venables. Williams was hurt in the fourth quarter as well, although he was present for the press conference following the game.
After transferring from Cal, Mettauer is a Houston-area senior in his fifth year of play. He has started all three of his seasons. This season, he has started at right guard in every game and leads the club in total snaps.
Detroit native Anthony, a transfer from Michigan, leads the Sooners in receiving yards (429) and ranks second with 27 catches.
The No. 5 rated Sooners (6-0 overall, 3-0 Big 12 Conference) defeated then-No. 3 Texas 34-30 in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, and this Saturday they have an open date.
The next game for OU is against Big 12 rookie UCF on October 21 at home.
The Miami-Oh transfer Caleb Shaffer, who had roughly 2,300 snaps at Miami before posting a Pro Football Focus grade of 56.0 versus the Longhorns, took Mettauer’s spot on Saturday. Mettauer is from the Houston area. Mettauer has totaled 2,989 offensive snaps in his career, including three seasons as a starter at Cal. He has played 414 offensive snaps this season, according to PFF.
This season, the 6-1, 192-pound Anthony has made 290 snaps for the Sooners. During 55 of those snaps, he caught five catches for 42 yards versus Texas. Anthony, a junior and former Wolverines starter, has 873 total offensive snaps under his belt in college. This season, he is leading the team in yards per game with 71 and averaging 15.9 yards per grab. The Sooners have spread the ball about well, as seen by the fact that seven different players have at least ten receptions. His contributions in the receiving corps may be more difficult to replace.
Venables remarked, “Hate that for him, but this offers some other men some opportunity.”
