Teammate’s tweet: ‘Frank Shannon is back’ with Sooners

It appears that one of the most talented Oklahoma Sooner players on the defensive side of the ball is back with the football program.

While there has been no official announcement one way or the other from the school, one of Frank Shannon‘s teammates, Zach Sanchez, tweeted over the weekend that the linebacker is indeed back.  Sanchez, if you recall, drew the ire of head coach Bob Stoops last October for his very public use of a head band showing support for the suspended Shannon.

OU announced in mid-August that Shannon had been suspended by the university for the entire 2014 season.  The linebacker’s future at Oklahoma was “in limbo” after he was accused of sexual assault.  The Cleveland County (Okla.) District Attorney’s Office, however, declined to pursue charges following a weeks-long investigation.

A Title IX investigation, though, led to the suspension.

Shannon appealed the suspension decision all the way to the state’s supreme court; a month later, however, the Oklahoma Supreme Court upheld the punitive measure, and Shannon was forced to sit out the entire 2014 season.

If/when Shannon’s return comes to fruition, it will serve as a boon to the Sooners’ defense.  As a redshirt sophomore in 2013, Shannon started all 13 games and led the Sooners in tackles with 92.

Barring a waiver from the NCAA that would grant him another year, 2015 will be his final season of eligibility.

The strange case that is the University of Oklahoma vs. Frank Shannon continues Tuesday, with yet another development that adds an extra layer or two to the situation.

Following practice earlier today, Jordan Evans, who’s expected to take over at linebacker if Shannon’s season-long suspension is upheld, was asked if the Sooners’ leading tackler last season was getting any reps with the first-team defense.  Evans’ answer will surprise some who thought Shannon was no longer in the mix at OU.

“He’s been taking all of them. But we’re doing a whole bunch of things, the player said, before clarifying a bit. “I shouldn’t say all of them. But he’s taking a lot of reps. … So am I. They are really rotating in everybody some they can get an amount of reps and see where you are at.”

For his part, Bob Stoops is letting others handle the off-field situation involving the defensive leader.

“It’s like anything; we coach the players that are there,” the head coach said. “It’s pretty much how it goes. All we can control are the players that are on the field, and that’s all we ever can control. That’s all we do: coach the players that are there.

“We get guys hurt week in and week out who aren’t available, next guy up’s gonna come in and do the job. It’s just how it goes.”

OU announced earlier this week that, in mid-June, Shannon was suspended by the university for the entire 2014 season.  The linebacker’s future at Oklahoma was “in limbo” after he was accused of sexual assault.  The Cleveland County (Okla.) District Attorney’s Office, however, declined to pursue charges following a weeks-long investigation.

A Title IX investigation, though, led to the suspension.

Shannon is fighting the suspension through the court system, with the player already getting a victory in district court  The Cleveland County district court judge ruled that Shannon is allowed to remain enrolled as a student and participate in OU football activities.  OU has appealed the decision to the state’s supreme court.

Until then, Shannon will be permitted to practice with the Sooners and, if the case bleeds into the regular season, play in games.

When last we dipped our toes into the Frank Shannon “situation,” the linebacker’s future at Oklahoma was “in limbo” after he was accused of sexual assault.  The Cleveland County (Okla.) District Attorney’s Office, however, declined to pursue charges following a weeks-long investigation.

There was still a chance that Shannon could’ve been booted from the team based on the results of a federally-mandated Title IX investigation into the alleged assault.  It appears, though, those fears were unwarranted.

According to the Oklahoman, the Sooners released their 2014 media guide Tuesday and Shannon’s profile was included in the reference book.  Still, the paper wrote, “OU refused to release any information regarding the outcome of that investigation last week, saying no final disciplinary action had been determined yet.”

In other words, there is still a chance Shannon could be suspended for a game or two. He didn’t play in the spring game earlier this offseason, nor did he participate in a handful of practices leading up to it due to the police probe.

Even if Shannon is slapped with some type of suspension, having him for the majority of the season would be a boon to OU’s defense. As a redshirt sophomore in 2013, Shannon started all 13 games and led the Sooners in tackles with 92.