Stacy McGee knew this day was coming.

It was only a matter of time before the Muskogee High School graduate was going to step in and play defensive tackle for the OU football team. This time is now as the 6-foot-5, 285-pound sophomore will play the position vacated by Gerald McCoy, now a member of the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

''It was after the national championship game when I realized I would have to fill Gerald's shoes," McGee said. "I have the chance to start this year and if I don't, it's my fault," McGee said. "It's right there in front of me. I'm not really nervous. It's not like I don't know what's going on. I know what I've got to do and I just have to execute."

At least one person with the Sooners is optimistic about McGee stepping in and executing.

''Stacy is a crucial part of this defense," Adrian Taylor, listed first on the preseason depth chart just ahead of McGee, said. "I would say he's our No. 1 pass rusher by the way he gets off the ball. He reminds you of Gerald."

Taylor started 13 games last year but his season ended early in the Sun Bowl after suffering a dislocated ankle against Stanford. He said he has high hopes for McGee.

''You can't teach what he does," Taylor said. "He's a natural. Stacy's come in and is doing what coach (Jackie) Shipp has shown him. He may not be that 350-pound defensive tackle, but he's strong for his size and does a good job using his leverage."

Shipp said he likes what he's seen from McGee.

''I think he has a chance to be a good football player," Shipp said. "There's still work for him to do, but it's encouraging him to see trying to be conscious of using technique."

McGee used that technique to register an assisted tackle against Idaho State last season. But he's shown more than his abililty on defense. He's also displayed versatility by playing offensive guard for the Sooners when starter Trent Williams missed the Oklahoma State game with a concussion.

It was the first time that McGee, the former state champion wrestler, played on offense since his junior year at Muskogee.

''I learned a lot from playing on the offensive line," he said. "It helped me with my defensive stuff, such as learning how an offense works."

McGee's also learned about defense since arriving in Norman.

''When I first got here, I didn't know why you did this or that. Now I know what the whole line does and also what the linebackers are doing," he said. "Everything makes sense. It was a lot to learn. Coach Shipp had me write down every day what everybody does and that helped a lot."

McGee, who said he's added 35 pounds of muscle since high school, doesn't hesitate to say he prefers playing defense.

''I have a mentality for defense," he said. "I'm always looking to catch and stop people instead of people trying to stop me."