OU football notebook

Oklahoma didn't add a running back in its recent recruiting class, but the Sooners are making a play to take the best in Texas next year.

The Sooners already claim a commitment from Gilmer star Justin Johnson, the cousin of wideout Manuel Johnson. Johnson figures to rank as one of the top backs in Texas in 2007 and is on the Rivals.com 100 to watch national list.

Now the Sooners appear to be the early leader for Jermie Calhoun of Van, Texas. Calhoun, who some think is the Lone Star State's premier back, was once considered a lock for the Longhorns. But Texas' curious apparent decision not to recruit Calhoun has shifted the runner's sights north of the Red River.

Calhoun has run for more than 3,300 yards and 45 touchdowns the past two seasons.

He's already had offers from OU, Oklahoma State, Alabama, Florida, Kansas State, LSU, Nebraska and Texas A&M.

•Helping hands: Six Sooners, along with Courtney and Ashley Paris from the women's basketball team, joined forces recently with the team from "ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”

Alonzo Dotson, Darien Williams, Curtis Lofton, Carter Whitson, Sam Bradford and Gerald McCoy spent a day in Lawton contributing to the construction of a new home for the family of Gene Westbrook.

A longtime OU fan, Westbrook was paralyzed as an Army sergeant in Iraq when mortar fire struck a mess hall. When a car accident later left 9-year-old son James paralyz