ESPN: Durron Neal Hopes For Increased Role With Oklahoma Sooners

Durron Neal knows something about the number 5. He wore the jersey number in a De Smet Jesuit football career that saw him become one of the state's top recruits in the class of 2012. His performance in that jersey attracted the attention of elite Division I programs like the one he chose, the University of Oklahoma Sooners.

After he played himself into the Sooners' 2012 plans as a Freshman, Neal saw limited action during the season, due in large part to a pair of receivers who transferred in with experience. His total number of catches last season? Five.

Now, going through his first spring practice, Neal, who wore number 13 as a Freshman at Oklahoma, is getting number 5 back for his Sophomore campaign as he competes for a starting job.

“I’m up to the challenge. It’s one of the reasons I came here," Neal told ESPN.com. My coaches believe in me, my teammates believe in me and I’m ready to step up and not let them down," he said.

Of playing sparingly last season, Neal told the website, “It knocked the nervousness out, getting that first college game experience out of the way,” Neal said. “Coming into this season, I know the atmosphere, what it’s like, the competition level, the speed of the game. Now I know its going to come easier to me.”