Broyles an emerging star as Oklahoma Sooners outlast K-State

By MIKE JONES

jjones@star-telegram.com

NORMAN, Okla. — Watching Ryan Broyles emerge this season, I’ve been tempted to rush to judgment.

Or at least rush to comparisons between Oklahoma’s sophomore slot receiver and past greats Juaquin Iglesias and Mark Clayton. I know. Those guys were really, really good. Consistently.

I’m not saying Broyles is their equal in a career in which he still has chapters to write. I am saying he at least now belongs in the same conversation and is one of the most dynamic receivers in college football today.

And there’s no doubt that the Sooners (5-3, 3-1 Big 12) would not have defeated North Division leader Kansas State 42-30 Saturday night without him.

"He’s always been competitive," coach Bob Stoops said earlier in the week. "But now with a little more maturity and age, with more confidence and experience on the field, he’s probably even stepped that up.

"He’s fast, he’s elusive, he’s got great hands. He’s a big-play guy."

Broyles made the coach look good.

There was Broyles gaining 19 yards on a jet sweep on the second play of the game. Two plays later, he pulled in a slant pass from Landry Jones, broke two tackles, spun and vaulted the ball backward over the goal line for OU’s first touchdown.

There he was again, leaping to pull down an 11-yard gain on third-and-6 two series later and gaining 9 on a flat pass on the next pay. And again, going to the dirt and laying out to snag a low pass from Jones and keep it off the turf for a 2-yard TD catch and a 21-0 lead in that early Sooners burst that threatened to turn this game into a rout — before the Wildcats proved they’re the North’s real deal.

A game broke out. And then when Oklahoma needed someone to step up as the defense was getting schemed by a unique K-State attack, the offense and its chief playmaker reappeared.

The Wildcats had scored on four consecutive possessions and cut OU’s lead to an uncomfortable 28-20.

Suddenly, as the Sooners attempted to answer, a same-play holding call and a curious unsportsmanlike conduct flag on Broyles not only negated Broyles’ 38-yard touchdown catch-and-run, but left OU facing a first-and-45 from their own 37.

"I was just thinking take care of the ball, if it’s not there, take your checkdowns and let your playmakers go run," Jones said. "Fortunately, Ryan made a great play."

Jones went to Broyles on third-and-24.

"Man," Broyles exclaimed as he attempted to recreate the most dramatic play of the game. "They were playing off me, so I just sat down on my man about 5 yards over the line, caught the ball and started running.

"I shouldered one guy off [made two others miss] and I knew we needed a first down. I saw the sideline and I saw the first-down marker and I knew I needed to get there."

He did — with a yard to spare.

Six plays later Jones — who would complete his last 14 passes of the game — found DeMarco Murray in the left flat and he took it in 6 yards to compete an incredible 67-yard drive that actually covered 92.

But before fans had time celebrate a 35-23 lead, K-State’s Brandon Banks took the kickoff back 98 yards for a score and the race was again on.

The offense again responded. This time with receivers Adron Tennell and Dejuan Miller each making multiple key receptions, OU drove 68 yards to ice it.

Broyles again was vital, catching a slant over the middle for 13 yards and a first-and-goal at the 4. Murray scored two plays later.

Broyles caught eight balls for 91 yards and two TDs. He now has 45 catches for 591 yards and 10 touchdowns and missed all but one play of two games.

He’s heard the whispers linking him to Iglesias and Clayton, both of whom he watched as a Norman High student.

"People are saying that," Broyles said, "but I’m just out there to play. Maybe I can make a name for myself."

Maybe so.

Mike Jones, 817-390-7760

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