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OU vs. Tennessee availability report (Thursday): Kobie McKinzie update

headshotby: George Stoia10 hours agoGeorgeStoia
Kobie McKinzie5
OU linebacker Kobie McKinzie. (Kyle Ross - Imagn Images)

OU could get one of its starting linebackers back on Saturday against No. 14 Tennessee.

Redshirt junior Kobie McKinzie was listed on Thursday’s availability report as probable. McKinzie injured his groin in the first quarter of the Ole Miss game and never returned. Coach Brent Venables said on his coach’s show on Monday that McKinzie was hoping to play this week against the Vols.

“Kobie’s a leader,” Venables said after the Ole Miss game. “He’s the guy that does a really good job from getting all the guys into the right checks. You don’t have 9,000 checks every play, but there’s some small things, detail-wise, that are really important. I would call him elite through the first 7 games of the season, getting us into the right calls. So anytime you got a guy like that that’s out, from leadership and playmaking, it can be potentially an issue. But I thought the guys came in and fought, competed, that replaced him.”

Not having McKinzie would be a big loss for the OU defense, as he’s the voice in the middle for the Sooners. He’s totaled 24 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and one sack this season. If he can’t play, expect junior Sammy Omosigho to start in his place.

In other positive news, cornerback Gentry Williams was also listed as probably on Thursday’s report.

  • LB Kobie McKinzie: Probable
  • OL Derek Simmons: Doubtful
  • DB Gentry Williams: Probable
  • RB Jovantae Barnes: Questionable
  • RB Taylor Tatum: Questionable
  • OL Logan Howland: Questionable
  • WR Keontez Lewis: Doubtful
  • OL Troy Everett: Out
  • OL Jacob Sexton: Out
  • OL Jake Taylor: Out

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