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Adrian Peterson's injury leaves the Sooners searching for not only a new go-to guy, but also a leader.

Volunteers?

"If I do get that responsibility, I'm going to take it and run with it," OU wide receiver Malcolm Kelly said. "I'm not searching for that. But I have a lot of confidence in myself. If they want to give me that role, I'll sure enough take it.

"The No. 1 man is down right now, so somebody has to be that guy."

Kelly, a sophomore, might have already ranked No. 2 in Sooner importance.

He's already amassed 23 receptions for 460 yards and six touchdowns. Saturday against Iowa State, he caught four passes for 50 yards and two scores.

Still, Kelly knows replacing Peterson is a stout task.

"It's not like he's just any old player," Kelly said. "Arguably the best player in college football, period."

And Peterson's influence extends beyond the playing field to practice and the weight room and in between, as a leader.

"Somebody has to be that guy, too," Kelly said. "Whoever that somebody is, I hope they can do it as good as he was doing it until he gets back."

By John Helsley