OU football releases spring depth chart

So spring practices are almost here and Stoops and Co. have decided to give us a little info to digest prior to things getting started.  OU released their spring depth chart today and there are more than a couple surprises.  Now some are easily explainable (we'll address that) and some others are not, but I think most of us here are smart enough to know these types of things, especially this time of year, are really more of a motivational tool than anything.

So check out the depth chart and our analysis after the jump because I know you're DYING to talk some OU football!

Let's start with the offense shall we, I think the one name OU fans had hoped to see at the top of the depth chart was QB Blake Bell.  As you can see Drew Allen looks like he will head into the start of spring practices as the primary backup to Landry.  Doesn't mean that Bell can't over take him, but I always believed Allen had the edge just from an experience stand point.

Obviously there is only two spots available at the RB spot (for depth chart purposes anyway) and with Roy Finch out injured, you'd expect to not see his name on here.  However, the one name I did expect to see and am surprised not to is that of Jonathan Miller.  I am happy to see Brennan Clay's name and really think OU fans have prematurely written him off for lack of a better word.  How quickly we forget that it was Clay who drew the most praise last summer from Sooner coaches and had he not suffered that nasty concussion in the FSU game, I think he would have played a much larger role in the offense last year.  Then you see Brandon Williams' name and the reality of just how good this kid could be starts to set in.  I cannot wait to see him in the crimson and cream next year!!!

"Starting" WRs are pretty much as you'd expect.  Nice to see Sheldon McClain and Justin McCay, hope to see big things out of them in 2011.  Apparently, at least according this this depth chart, the Joe Powell to cornerback experiment has yet to take place.

James Hanna and Austin Haywood, but not Trent Ratterree?  This is one of the easily explainable ones I was talking about in the open.  Ratterree is out injured, so no point to include him on something like this.  Same deal with Musil being the "starter" at FB as Trey Millard is out with a shoulder injury.

No surprises across the offensive line, which could be a good or bad thing depending on how you want to look at it.  I still expect Shead to win the RG spot, but I'd also like to see some of the younger freshman tackles step up and earn some time this year.

Now for the defense.  Pretty much as you'd expect up front, although I must confess I'm a little surprised to McGee listed as a "starter" given his recent marijuana arrest.  Good to see Noble's name as he tries to come back from a severe concussion suffered last year.  Might be the first time since he arrived in Norman that R.J. Washington made a depth chart, so I guess you have to consider that progress?

Absolutely nothing out of the ordinary at LB, with T-Lew, Box, and Jefferson (listed as a LB) manning the three spots.  Will be really interesting to see how they decide to use Jefferson with the news that we can expect OU to use a lot more of their '50 front' defense.

Now for easily the most shocking aspect of this depth chart.  We expected to see Aaron Colvin's name at the top of any depth chart after Jamell Fleming decided to flunk out, but we did not expect to see his name at safety.  I had heard that the coaches were working him at safety, but that it really didn't mean anything since they work guys at multiple spots all the time.  Now this and you have to wonder if this is being done because they expect Fleming to be back and don't want to waste another of Colving on the bench?  The one thing I can tell you with certainty about this development is the painful realization of how little depth we now have at CB.  Gabe Lynn has a ton of potential but has never played, Julian Wilson is a guy the coaches have raved about but again has never played, then I look down and see the name of Julian Winters.  Who the heck is Julian Winters?!?  I'd like to think I follow this team and recruiting just about as much as anyone and I've never even heard of this kid???  Maybe he's another Colvin, he came out of nowhere last year, but right now, sight unseen it has to be considered a weak link no?

Alright, it's football so I expect plenty of comments people!