OU backup receiver Tennell starting to attract attention OU spring football OU backup receiver Tennell starting to attract attention
By Scott Wright
Published: April 6, 2007
NORMAN — As a deep pass from one of Oklahoma's quarterbacks sailed wide of its target, the receiver spun around, leaned over the sideline and caught the ball, keeping his toes in bounds for a 40-yard completion.
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Just the kind of play you'd expect the Sooners' star receiver Malcolm Kelly to make.
Of course, Kelly isn't taking part in spring practice, which is why Adron Tennell's spectacular catch in a seven-on-seven drill before last Saturday's scrimmage had on-lookers buzzing.
Spring practice means a lot to many players but none more than Tennell. Thanks to Kelly's offseason knee surgery, Tennell was given the opportunity to show he could be the guy following in Kelly's footsteps to stardom.
But he's not necessarily going to be following Kelly on the depth chart next fall. Sure, Kelly is still the team's best receiver, but if Tennell shows he's the second-best, OU coaches will begin looking for ways to get them on the field together.
"Not that it's threatening Malcolm's spot by any means, but when Malcolm needs to be rotated or needs a breather, that's not an issue,” OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. "And it wouldn't be hard, once they learn the concepts, to play different spots and get the best guys on the field.”
Tennell knows the challenge he faces this spring. And he knows the coaches are watching closely.
Kelly has taken on the role of coach for the younger players like Tennell and Brandon Caleb this spring.
"He's a real gifted receiver,” Kelly said. "He likes to have fun. He's not out there jumping around or acting crazy, but on the sideline or anywhere else, he's just a goofy cat. He's real young-minded. He likes to have fun, which is good, because he translates that to the field.”
That youthful attitude, along with his teddy-bear face, makes the nickname "Pooh” even more fitting.
Tennell's grandfather started calling him Pooh when he was just 2 or 3 years old, because every time Tennell visited, they had to watch "Winnie the Pooh” cartoons together.
"I tried to leave it down in Texas,” Tennell said of the nickname. "But Coach Stoops brought it out here and started calling me it, and everybody caught onto it.”
Stoops would gladly give up using the nickname, as long as Tennell keeps making plays.
"I'll call him whatever he wants me to call him,” Stoops said. "I love the guy. He works hard. He's a great young man and a great player. He hasn't played much. He's a young guy, so that's what all these snaps are for. Each guy has to keep getting better.
"Pooh's doing a great job.”
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