It didn’t take long for senior defensive back Jamell Fleming to get back on top of OU’s depth chart.

Fleming’s return to the Sooner football team in July was certainly a breath of fresh air to a program that has faced several disruptions during the spring and summer months.

“(Fleming’s) really a good teammate,” defensive backs coach Willie Martinez said. “He’s really humble, and that helps too when you haven’t been around since January. And he came back in great shape.”

But before he could get back to Norman, Fleming had to resolve an issue with academic misconduct by taking classes at a junior college and spending the spring and summer at home.

“My family was a great support system,” Fleming said. “I wanted to get back and be ready to go. I knew once they gave me the shot to come back, I’d be ready to go.”

Fleming had to wait through summer camp before being named the Sooners’ No. 1 corner on the revised depth chart, which was released Monday.

In order for him to get back on the field, the All-American had to get past junior Gabe Lynn, who benefited from Fleming’s absence, coaches say.

“Jamell not being here helped us develop our depth,” Martinez said.

OU coach Bob Stoops said he was pleased with Lynn’s development throughout the offseason and thinks the defensive back will be a contributor for the Sooners.

“Gabe has made great progress, and he continued to make progress with more consistency,” Stoops said. “We can play him in a number of positions.”

But despite the coaches’ belief in Lynn, Fleming’s 40 games of experience made him an obvious choice in the starting lineup. After amassing 108 career tackles — 71 in 2010 — Fleming’s return solidifies cornerback as a position of strength for Oklahoma.

Junior defensive back Demontre Hurst, the starter on the other side of the field, notched 50 tackles and 11 pass-breakups last season.

“It was [Hurst’s] first year to be a full-time starter last year,” Martinez said. “And he handled it well. Now he’s expected to be that player, but better.”

With Fleming and Hurst, the Sooners can argue they have the best pair of cornerbacks in the Big 12.

Texas A&M’s cornerback duo of seniors Coryell Judie and Terrence Fredrick — who both earned Big 12 honorable mentions last season — combined for 114 tackles in 2010. Judie’s four interceptions and Fredrick’s eight tackles for loss show these two can make trouble for receivers.

But Fleming’s performance last year outshines them both, grabbing 19 pass-breakups (second nationally) and five interceptions, and Hurst already was honored as one of eight Sooners to make the preseason All-Big 12 team.

Cornerbacks are responsible for covering receivers and defending against passing offenses. Making tackles and disrupting pass plays is something Fleming and Hurst have been well-versed in since committing to OU.

On Saturday, Oklahoma’s corners will be vital in disrupting the Tulsa offense, led by senior quarterback G.J. Kinne. Kinne, the reigning Conference USA player of the year, has 6,382 passing yards and 53 touchdowns for his career.

Forunately for OU, the Sooners will have Fleming and Hurst on the field.

And don’t expect the first-game nerves to be a factor.

“It’s the first game, and I guess everyone has those jitters, but those will go away,” Fleming said. “I’ve been around here for awhile, so I’m used to the first game.”