Will Perkins be more than moral support?
Defensive end is expected to return vs. Texas
NORMAN — OU's defense is expected to get a major boost on Saturday when defensive end Ronnie Perkins is expected to make his season debut against Texas.
Sooners coach Lincoln Riley, though, isn't about to say that or even act like it's any more a possibility than it was a few weeks ago.
“Honestly, kind of in the same spot that we've been
with all three of those guys,” Riley said, keeping Perkins bunched with two other suspended players, running back Rhamondre Stevenson and wide receiver Trejan Bridges.
“It could change in five minutes, it could change maybe in three more weeks. I wish I had more answers, but sadly I do not.”
Perkins, Bridge sand Stevenson were each suspended after failing at NCAA drug test in advance of the Peach Bowl in December. The NCAA mandates a half-season suspension for such an offense, which sources have said was testing positive for marijuana.
Riley has repeatedly called the process ongoing and said there were appeals being worked through.
Other than OU arguing the suspensions should be reduced because the number of games played in 2020 was reduced, though, there was not another appeal moving forward in the case over the last few months until recently.
New circumstances in Perkins' case opened the door for an appeal, and it was granted according to a source close to the situation.
That's what opened the door for Perkins to travel to Iowa State last week. He didn't play, because hurdles remained before Perkins would be able to return to the field, but there's confidence within the athletic department that those hurdles can be cleared by early in the week.
Perkins has been practicing with the team and is expected to play in Saturday game against Texas (11 a.m., Fox).
That Perkins' situation is different from Bridges' and Stevenson' s was evident Saturday as Perkins was on the sidelines and the other two players weren't.
None of the three had been on the sideline for either of OU's first two games.
Riley said Monday that Perkins was there for “moral support.”
“Just his presence there was really positive and I thought he contributed to an excited sideline,” Riley said Monday. “Just was really good for some of our young guys there in key positions.
“His status for Saturday has not changed.”
Against Iowa State, the Sooners' defensive line was able to get pressure on Cyclones quarter back Brock P ur dy, though it wasn't until late in the game that they were able to record a sack.
O U' sp ass rush could certainly use a boost this week against Texas and Sam Ehlinger.
“I need him,” Sooners defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said recently when asked about Perkins. “Our defense needs him, and thrilled that he's part of us.”
Perkins had five tackles and a sack in last year's win over Texas and had another sack of Ehlinger in the Big 12 title game the year before.
Perkins was second on the team as a sophomore last year with six sacks and 13.5 tack les for loss, starting 13 games.
Perkins has 75 tackles and 11 sacks during his OU career.