The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 29

THE OKLAHOMAN NEWSOK.COM 5B SUNDAY, JULY 6, 2014 SPORTS GETTING A SECOND CHANCE McGruder rooting for Green-Beckham Jason 0 Kersey Kersey jkersey(3 opuDco. iopubco.com 3v A Lynn McGruder kept his nose clean for four years, became a key contributor on the defensive line, after getting a second chance at OU. SECOND-CHANCE SOONERS Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is known for his tough approach when it comes to discipline, but he has also allowed several players throughout the years a second or sometimes, third or fourth chance after they get into trouble. Here's a look at five notable Sooners who made good on their extra opportunities: RYAN BROYLES Broyles, a former Norman High standout, was arrested and charged with attempted larceny just before his freshman season began in 2007. He red-shirted that season, but became arguably the greatest receiver in OU football history, setting the NCAA record for career receptions.

He now plays for the Detroit Lions. DUSTY DVORACEK Dvoracek was a first-team All-Big 12 defensive tackle in 2003, but was dismissed from the Sooners early in the 2004 season after an alcohol-related altercation that ended with his friend in intensive care. Stoops allowed Dvoracek to return in 2005, though, after the NCAA granted him a hardship waiver because of his alcohol addiction. Dvoracek earned All-Big 12 honors in 2005, then went on to play for the Chicago Bears. He now hosts "The Rush," a sports radio talk show on KREF in Norman with former teammate Teddy Lehman, and works as a sideline reporter during OU football radio broadcasts.

JAMELL FLEMING Fleming started all 13 games as a junior in 2010, intercepting five passes, before missing all of the next spring because of academic misconduct. He returned to the team the next fall, though, and became a first-team All-Big 12 performer and third-round NFL Draft pick. He's now with the Jacksonville Jaguars. JAZ REYNOLDS Reynolds made lots of mistakes throughout his OU career, but Stoops continued to give him extra chances, and the wide receiver ended up making the most of his final opportunity. During his true freshman season, he tweeted insensitive comments about a gunman on the University of Texas campus and redshirted that year.

He served a one-game suspension for violating team rules as a sophomore in 2011, and was removed from scholarship in May 2012 when he violated team rules and was suspended indefinitely. He was reinstated, but didn't play at all as a junior. His senior year, he caught 14 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown and was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent. QUENTIN HAYES Hayes was suspended along with Reynolds in May 2012 for violating unspecified team rules. He sat out the entire 2012 season, but returned as a junior and started all 13 of the Sooners' games at strong safety last season, recording 75 tackles and two interceptions.

He enters his senior year as a veteran, seasoned leader in a pretty inexperienced secondary. BY JASON KERSEY NORMAN Bob Stoops took in an SEC outcast, seen by many as a drug dealer and bad seed unworthy of a second chance in major college football. Stoops and athletic director Joe Castiglione were risking their football program's reputation, and told him upfront there 'd be zero tolerance for any malfeasance in Norman. "We can't have anything bad happen while you're here," they told him. "If your name gets brought up for anything, you will be out of here." Lynn McGruder kept his nose clean for four years, became a key contributor on the defensive line, graduated and completely changed his public image, which was stained following his 2001 arrest on a felony drug charge and subsequent dismissal from Tennessee The Sooners added former Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham last week, a surprising move considering Green-Beckham's checkered past and Stoops' reputation as a strict, no-nonsense disciplinarian.

While many fans may be hesitant to embrace the controversial decision, though, McGruder became an instant Green -Beckham supporter, and hopes the troubled wideout makes the most of his second chance. "It doesn't look good on the program for them to take a second chance on certain people, because most people don't really look keen onto that type of FROM THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVES window and pulled a family of five out of a burning van. McGruder and Clayton were named as the Big 12's Sportsmen of the Year for their heroics. Green-Beckham will likely sit out the 2014 season under NCAA rules, unless his NCAA appeal for immediate eligibility is successful. Either way, he's clearly got a lot of growing up to do.

But as McGruder -who played professionally for a few years and is now considering returning to OU for a master's degree -knows, just about anything is possible. "I would tell him to take it one day at a time," McGruder said. "Stay positive. Really, really soak in the fact that he has a second chance, and truly, truly don't let anything negative from the outside come into his life. "Anytime you get a chance like this, and you're that type of athlete, and you're in that type of environment, you have to take advantage of it.

That's what OU is expecting out of him. That's what Coach Stoops evidently sees in him." ro-tolerance the whole time I was at OU," McGruder said. "They weren't playing. You have no room for error, no room for mistakes. It makes you accountable.

It makes your integrity have to go up a little bit more. "All those kid games go out the window because you're playing with your career and your life." The maturation process wasn't always easy, though, for McGruder. He remembers hearing vicious taunts from opposing fans, who were all too eager to bring up his past. "We were playing OSU one year, and the crowd was being nasty, saying, 'If you want drugs, just call number McGruder recalled. "But at the end of the day, the people saying that don't know you.

It's up to you to change people's minds. "You've gotta change yourself first, because you can't change anything until you change yourself." McGruder's reputation changed forever in the summer of 2003, when he and teammate Mark Clayton witnessed an accident on Interstate 35, broke a situation," McGruder said. "But it really speaks volumes of the program and of Coach Stoops and the staff. "They don't have to do that at all, because they've already got the top players in the country. It's a beautiful thing, man.

He should take advantage of it." Green -Beckham the No. overall prospect in the 2012 recruiting class -was involved in two drug-related arrests and, most recently, allegations that he broke into a woman's apartment and assaulted her. He wasn't charged in the alleged assault, but Missouri dismissed him anyway. Stoops and the Oklahoma coaching staff recruited Green -Beckham heavily out of high school, establishing a relationship that allowed them to believe he is capable of changing and staying out of trouble in Norman. According to sources, Green -Beckham will be kept on an extremely short leash, and almost any missteps will result in his dismissal.

"I was definitely on ze HELP ON THE WAY FOR COWBOYS Pokes have four incoming defensive back recruits Cody Stavenhagen to (OSU corners) Ashton (Lampkin) and Kevin Peterson they kept telling me Coach Malone is a good coach and he'll get me ready and prepared." Malone played four seasons with the Detroit Lions, and with Gilbert going No. 8 overall in the NFL Draft, a school known for its offense is getting a little more attention for its defense. "You see what Justin Gilbert did and his development," Lane said. oach Malone he was in the NFL, so he has the experience to give to me and the other players." If the Cowboys can land Lewis, a speedy corner from Louisiana, they'd have a highly impressive trio of defensive back commits. Regardless, OSU has reinforcements on the way.

"He's very competitive and very athletic and rose to the top real quick," Alief Taylor coach Jody Jordan said. "He's just naturally aggressive and likes to be around the football. And he's got good ball skills, which I think come from him playing basketball." At 6-1, 180, Lane had five interceptions and 46 tackles in his junior season at Nacogdoches (Texas) High School. He said OSU corners coach Van Malone was one of the biggest reasons he chose OSU over schools like Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State and LSU. "I'll need to prove myself to play a lot early on, but that's what I'm going to do," Lane said.

"I talked The Cowboys have four incoming defensive back recruits, including Houston cornerback Chris Harde man. PHOTO BY BRETT COOMER, HOUSTON CHRONICLE that also produced incoming OSU freshmen in Hardeman and receiver Keenan Brown changed that. Now Scout.com lists McGruder as a four -star prospect. With Justin Gilbert, Daytawion Lowe and Shamiel Gary gone, the Oklahoma State secondary is a serious question mark entering the 2014 season. But the OSU coaching staff is taking steps on the recruiting trail to make sure that doesn't last.

The Cowboys have four incoming defensive back recruits: Houston cor-nerback Chris Hardeman, Jenks safety Dylan Harding, New Orleans corner Juwan Offray and Georgia safety Kirk Tucker. Athletes Tre Roberts and Ramon Richards also will likely join the OSU secondary. So far, OSU's 2015 recruiting class indicates focus is staying on the de -fensive backfield. The Cowboys have commitments from four-star cornerback Jaylon Lane and Rivals.com three star safety Kenneth McGruder. OSU also made four-star prospect Xavier Lewis' list of final schools along with Texas, LSU and Arkansas.

He's expected to announce his commitment next week. In the case of the 6-foot-2, 203-pound McGruder, the opportunity to play right away was a big draw. OSU's ROOFING SIDING WINDOWS Over 12,000 Satisfied safety depth chart entering 2014 is unknown. Michigan transfer Josh Fur-man will likely come in and grab the strong safety spot, but that leaves sophomores Deric Robertson and Jordan Sterns along with redshirt freshman Tre Flowers fighting at free safety. None stood out in the spring, and the case could be similar in 2015.

"They're going to need people to be ready to come in and play," McGruder said. "They said I'm the No. 1 guy they want to come in and play. They said a chance at the spot will be there, all I have to do is come in and take it." McGruder burst onto the recruiting scene after a strong junior year at Alief Taylor High School in Houston. McGruder changed schools late in his sophomore year, and at that point was known more as a basketball play- ERRELL'S 799-7700 800-880-7700 terrellroofi ng.com Best quality at the very BEST PRICE! If you live in Oklahoma and have an IRS problem, you need an Oklahoma attorney.

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