Redshirt freshman quarterback Landry Jones has some competition now that quarterback recruit Blake Bell signed his letter of intent Wednesday.

Bell, a four-star player by Rivals.com from Bishop Carroll Catholic High School in Wichita, Kan., is a 6-foot-6-inch dual-threat quarterback who has been verbally committed to OU since he was offered a scholarship in July.

“He’s a talented guy when you look at his ability to throw the football,” Stoops said. “He’s an excellent pocket quarterback, which is a staple of what we do.”

Bell’s most attractive features are that he will be a new style of Sooner quarterback. There have been few quarterbacks who could both run and pass well, and the coaching staff has stayed away from calling run plays for its quarterbacks.

With Bell’s versatility, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson can open up his playbook. Stoops said he would not have a problem with running Bell six or seven times a game.

“Blake is more athletic than any quarterback we’ve signed as far as being able to pull the ball down and run,” Stoops said. “We’re not ever going to run him much; we don’t like our quarterbacks getting beat up for a lot of reasons. In the end we’ll run him sparingly.”

During Bell’s two years as starting quarterback in high school, he passed for 5,992 yards with 69 touchdowns and 15 interceptions and rushed for 1,165 yards with 34 touchdowns. He led his school to a state title during his senior year.

“You love he’s a winner,” Stoops said.

But Bell will have to prove he’s a winner once Jones either graduates or gets replaced, an option many OU fans would have taken at different points during OU’s disappointing 2009 season.

Jones was under a lot of scrutiny following Heisman-winner Sam Bradford’s shoulder injury in the season opener. Jones put together some impressive wins during the en route to an 8-5 season, but he will be remembered most for his two fourth-quarter interceptions against Texas and his five-interception performance in a loss against Nebraska.

Despite Jones’ hardships, Stoops fervently supported his quarterback and was repaid with a nearly flawless performance in the Sooners’ 31-27 victory against the Stanford Cardinal in the Sun Bowl. In OU’s first bowl victory since 2005, he completed 30 of 51 passes for 418 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.

But Jones’ solid victory does not guarantee him the starting role next season. Stoops said he plans on having Bell ready to provide competition for the starting-quarterback position when he is able to suit up for practice.

“[Bell will] compete from the first day he’s here,” Stoops said. “Getting him snaps, getting him comfortable and seeing what he’s able to do and bringing him along.”

But Bell’s chances of starting next season are slim.

During the Bob Stoops era, Stoops has never started a true-freshman quarterback in a season-opener and he has started just two redshirt freshman, Bradford and Jason White, on day one.

So, all signs do not point toward Bell starting in 2010, but his future at OU looks bright and the starting-quarterback job could be his in 2011.