OU's question mark a big one
Sooners football: Spring practice begins Wednesday
Sooners loaded with lots of weapons; then there's the matter of quarterback

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The Sooners return 18 starters off their Big 12 championship game lineup and 39 players from the two-deep.

There's All-American candidates — wide receiver Malcolm Kelly and safety Reggie Smith among them. And there are budding stars across the offensive line, at running back, tight end and linebacker.

OU is built to win – now.

Except at one all-important spot: quarterback.

The Sooners open spring practice Wednesday, the first step in identifying their field general for 2007, and in turn, assessing their readiness to repeat as Big 12 champions.

There are few issues on offense, even with Adrian Peterson moving on to the NFL. Ready replacements are lining up at running back, as well as left tackle where Chris Messner was a senior starter.

Inexperience at quarterback, however, casts uncertainty over the unit, if not the entire team.

"There will be some expectations that are unrealistic,” said offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson.

OU's quarterback will either be a lightly recruited junior college transfer with two career Division I passes, or a freshman.

The candidates:

•Joey Halzle, 6-3, 198, junior. Essentially recruited to be Rhett Bomar's backup, Halzle wasn't even given a thought when Bomar was dismissed on the eve of preseason practices last August. Paul Thompson was moved back from wide receiver and handed the job. Halzle b