Lincoln Riley understands the importance of leadership on a college football team.
In his first year as Oklahoma’s head coach, Riley benefited from team captains Baker Mayfield, Orlando Brown, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Steven Parker. The quartet commanded respect in the locker room and led by example.
Riley’s important job this season isn’t just building an offense around a new quarterback. He also has to discover leaders to keep their teammates focused and accountable.
“There’s potential. There’s great – just like athletic potential – we have some guys who are going to be great leaders,” Riley said. “But we need them to be great leaders now, not in the future. Some of them are going to have to grow up in a hurry and it’s our job as coaches to do everything that we can to facilitate that.”
Riley will work with his youngest roster during four seasons in Norman. It’ll be important for leaders to guide the players as well as that group to grow up fast.
“I think we have a good football team. I think we’re going to be fairly talented, but I think it will be the youngest team as far as experience. I know now, coming up, it’s hard to believe it’s my fourth year here and without a doubt it will be least-experienced team,” Riley said in late May. “Like any time this year, you have a lot of things to get you excited and you have a lot of things that you really have to work on to be the team that we want to be.”
There are a few candidates on offense including Rodney Anderson and Bobby Evans. Whoever wins the quarterback battle between Kyler Murray and Austin Kendall could be a strong candidate.
The defense will be filled with youth, but former OU staff member and All-American linebacker Eric Striker is excited about two players on that side of the ball.
“You see Caleb (Kelly) and Neville (Gallimore), they are taking accountability and responsibility as a leader,” said Striker, who now plays in the Canadian Football League. “It’s good to see guys who do everything the right way every day and be that example – who is going to be the guy who is on time every day? Don’t miss a single workout or a training session. That’s what we talk about when you are a leader. Don’t just talk about doing it. Cause no trouble off the field and look out for the younger guys.
“Caleb is more than capable of being that guy and Neville is more than capable of being that guy.”
Oklahoma will meet reporters at Big 12 Media Days on July 16 in Frisco, Texas.
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