Dominique Whaley gets medical OK

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DALLAS -- Dominique Whaley, the former walk-on who led Oklahoma in rushing in 2011 before suffering a broken ankle, has been cleared to resume football activities, coach Bob Stoops confirmed Monday. Stoops, however, cautioned that the Sooners won't know what kind of workload Whaley can handle until he puts on pads in August.

"Dominique is a guy that's trained well, he's been cleared to do everything. So he's out there running and training," Stoops said during Big 12 media day. "But until you get out there it's going to be kind of hard to say. I don't think Dom even knows until you get the pads on (and) make that sudden cut, is he going to feel comfortable doing it and all?

"But he says he feels really good and he's working well."

Whaley, who walked on to OU in 2010, won the starting job at running back in 2011 and became one of the best stories in college football. He rushed for four touchdowns in the opener against Tulsa, and capped off a dazzling 64-yard run with a touchdown in a 55-17 victory over Texas.

But in late October on the first play at Kansas State, Whaley suffered a broken ankle that required surgery and ended his season. Stoops announced shortly afterward that he would be awarding Whaley a scholarship.

After losing Whaley and then leading receiver Ryan Broyles to injury, OU's offense sputtered late in the year as the Sooners lost to Baylor and Oklahoma State.

"You lose your top rusher and top receiver, it changes you. It hurt," Stoops said. "Hopefully we can get Dom back."

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Jake Trotter | email

SoonerNationESPN.com

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• Oklahoma Sooners football beat writer
• Joined ESPN.com in 2011
• Author of "I Love Oklahoma/I Hate Texas"