Team MVP: Jason White may be a Heisman Trophy winner but I think Mark Clayton is the team MVP for 2004. White showed he was human in the last two games of the season when he looked rather ordinary against Kansas State and LSU. Paul Thompson is a good quarterback and if the Sooners have to go with him I feel they don’t miss a beat. Now if Clayton is contained or injured, then the offense has a hole to dig themselves out of.

Quarterback: Jason White is back for a sixth season and while I don’t feel he will win another Heisman Trophy his story last season was a real rags-to-riches one. White will be tested and will see an increased number of blitzes from opposing teams. He needs to make good decisions in order for the Sooners to go back to the title game. Paul Thompson is more than able as a backup.

Running Back: Kejuan Jones, Donta Hickson and J.D. Runnels form a trio that is very deep and talented. The key to the success is the Oklahoma backs can block ands catch the football as a rule. Super freshman Adrian Peterson is to be in the mix if the dislocated shoulder he recently suffered does not prove to be senior ending.

Wide Receiver/Tight End: Mark Clayton is such a good receiver because he has the speed to be a deep threat and he is so elusive that he can make a big play out of a short passing pattern. Clayton may be the best in the country running after he makes the grab. Clayton will be joined by senior Brandon Jones. The three targets listed on the depth chart behind Clayton are all 6-2 and taller so size is not an issue. At tight end James Moses will probably be used more for blocking purposes but in two tight end sets look for backup Willie Roberts to get involved in the passing game.

Offensive Line: This is the deepest portion of the football team as all five starters return including potential first round pick Jamaal Brown. Center Vince Carter is one of the most underrated lineman in the game and he could be the best at his position. Left tackle Chris Messner is a sophomore that is behind Wes Sims at the moment at left tackle but that could change during the season. Messner has the potential to be better than studs like Brown and Carter as he matures.

Defensive Line: With Tommie Harris gone things are now up to Dusty Dvorak and Dan Cody to make plays. Cody had a monster season at the end position and contrary to popular belief he saw more double teams than Harris did last year. Look for freshman Lawrence Dampeer to contribute from day one at the nose tackle position.

Linebacker: The Sooners get Lance Mitchell back but he is coming off a major knee injury. This means that the Sooners are very inexperienced at a position that was the strength of their defense a season ago. Wayne Chambers is not a starter but he is a backup at every position and could be the most valuable linebacker on the roster. Gayron Allen and Russell Dennison open the year as the linebackers on the outside. Chambers will be on the field with the starters when the unit goes to a 3-4 base which will happen from time to time.

Secondary: Antonio Perkins returns at cornerback and Donte Nicholson returns at strong safety. These players will ensure that next to Nebraska, Oklahoma has the best secondary in the Big 12. JUCO transfer Chijioke Onyenegecha is one of the most anticipated newcomers in all of college football. While Onyenegecha has been touted as a can’t miss prospect the junior has struggled in the spring while trying to replace Derrick Strait.

Special Teams: Trey DiCarlo made 35 field goals last year in 44 attempts and Blake Ferguson had a terrific year punting the football. When you throw in Antonio Perkins as your return man you see that Oklahoma probably has the best special teams units in all of college football, enough said. Perkins has seven career touchdowns as a return man, a lifetime number that could reach double digits at some point during the season.

Final Thoughts: Oklahoma went into the season like a Lion and came out like a lamb following their thrashings by Kansas State and LSU. At the beginning of the year it seemed like a formality that this team would go all the way and they were being ranked beside the all-time great college football teams. Oklahoma returns 16 starters so the possibility of making the big show again is very real.

-- DJ Boyer