The back seven coming into the 2007 season were all veterans and there were few worries about the group meshing together.

But since then, the Sooners have lost two starters in the linebacking corps — Curtis Lofton and Lewis Baker — as well as three starters in the secondary — Reggie Smith, Marcus Walker and D.J. Wolfe.

But at the beginning of this season, there were significant questions about how the group would fare due to the lack of experience on the back line.

But any questions about the inexperience of the group and how it would handle a spread type offense or a talented quarterback like Jake Locker — who can pick apart defenses on the run and with the pass — have been answered in nonconference games against the Washington Huskies and Cincinnati Bearcats.

“Defensively, we were solid once again,” Stoops said. “I thought that we contained a very mobile quarterback who has run the ball on everyone well.”

Much has been in part to a step up in play from junior linebacker Ryan Reynolds.

“It’s a huge part [middle linebacker] in the defense,” said head coach Bob Stoops. “He has been very solid.”

His play was particularly noticeable in the games against Cincinnati and Washington.

Reynolds had eight tackles against Cincinnati, assisting in one that resulted in a loss of two yards. In addition, he forced a fumble against the Bearcats.

In Saturday’s contest against Washington, he had five tackles and helped disrupt the dangerous Locker’s timing.

That earned him the honor of being one of the team defensive players of the game.

Another guy that has stepped up for the Sooners at the linebacker position is junior Keenan Clayton.

Clayton had five tackles against the Bearcats and led the team with nine tackles against the Huskies, including a 9-yard sack.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Travis Lewis has disrupted defenses early in the year with his explosive play from the second line of defense.

He has had 19 combined tackles in the last two contests.

Along with the linebackers, the secondary has played well so far and really clamped down against the Huskies, allowing only one major breakdown in the game, a 38-yard touchdown pass from Locker to Brandon Yakaboski.

Besides that, only two other plays made it deep into the Sooner secondary.

The Huskies executed a 22-yard run and a 21-yard pass completion, which, along with the touchdown, were the only big plays they could muster.

That earned junior Brian Jackson, as well as senior safeties Lendy Holmes and Nic Harris players of the game honors as well.

Jackson and Holmes combined for 11 tackles and two forced fumbles in the game. Jackson had two fumble returns.

Harris added three tackles of his own in helping shut down the speedsters of the Washington receiving corps.

While there were questions from the outside regarding the status of the Sooner back seven, Stoops downplays that it was never a concern.

“We have seen these guys for quite a while, so we are confident that they are the caliber players that we need and are used to in that position,” Stoops said. “We had seen that leading into the season enough to feel confident that they could step up and make the plays they need to.”