How OU football lineman Cayden Green is already showing he's 'mature beyond his years'
NORMAN — When Cayden Green entered last week’s game against Texas in replacement of Troy Everett at left guard, he was amped up.
But after he came off the field, OU’s freshman guard had to make it a point to settle down.
“That first drive I came in I was real hyped up and had to calm myself down,” Green said. “Like I ran the wrong direction on one play. I just had to really calm myself down.”
Green eventually settled into a rhythm and helped the Sooners to a 34-30 win over the Longhorns.
Freshmen have rarely played significant roles for OU’s offensive line in the Bill Bedenbaugh era, as it generally takes time for them to physically and mentally be ready for what the Sooners like to do up front.
Only a few players, like Anton Harrison and Dru Samia, have been able to break through and have success as freshmen.
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Green is working to be the next in that line, even if he’s yet to make his first start.
Green has played in five of OU’s six games, so he had plenty of game experience when his number was called.
But playing Texas is different from coming on late against Arkansas State or even early against most other opponents.
“A game of that magnitude I’ve never been a part of,” Green said. “I’ve only watched it on TV of course. But at the end of the day it’s still just football and you’re still just playing football.”
But though Green is from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, the rivalry of OU-Texas wasn’t unfamiliar to him.
“It was a dream come true,” Green said of playing in the game. "I mean, growing up I’ve always been an OU fan so I’ve always watched that game. … And being a part of it, in the heat of it, it was really a dream come true. It was really surreal.”
OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby said after the game he was happy to get the 6-foot-5, 316-pound Green into the game.
“He’s a big, massive guy that has a chance to be a really good player here,” Lebby said. “So for him to get as much action as he did today as a true freshman in this kind of game is big-time for us.”
Green went into the game with an edge to him.
“I was just trying to hurt somebody to be honest,” Green said. "Like I said, there’s a lot of tension there and I was trying to hurt somebody and I was just trying to do my job.”
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It wasn’t perfect, but Green had a solid showing against a defensive line that’s among the best OU will face this season.
Green wound up playing 57 of the Sooners’ 82 offensive snaps.
“We look at him as a guy that’s a quality, starter-type player,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said. “He just hasn’t been in. He’s a true freshman, but again, he’s mature beyond his years. He’s got great power and size, super smart, very competitive, easy to coach. He was ready for the moment.
“It’s not surprising. He’s got a disposition that’s perfect for that. He never gets too high, too low, is really consistent from a mindset standpoint and really performed well.”
Green figures to continue to play a significant role moving forward, whether he elevates into the starting lineup or remains a reserve.
That quest to make a difference continues when the Sooners host UCF at 11 a.m. Saturday coming off a bye week.
The successes against Texas, and areas where Green and the offensive line can improve, is motivating him for more.
“After that game we went back and watched it and realized that we left some money on the table,” Green said. “So right now we’re just humble and hungry and we want to do better for each other and we want to do better for this team because we know we can do better.”
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OU vs. UCF
KICKOFF: 11 a.m. Saturday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman (ABC)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football freshman OL Cayden Green continues to make strides
