NORMAN, Okla. -- Joe Mixon might be Oklahomas best player.Hes undoubtedly the most controversial Sooner.Mixon landed in Norman back in 2014 as one of the nations top running back recruits. Before he even participated in a fall practice, he got into an altercation and punched a woman in the face at a restaurant, resulting in a one-year suspension. Many fans were outraged, and some wanted him kicked off the team.Two years later, hes a bona fide star and crowd favorite who is beloved by his teammates. He ranks seventh nationally in all-purpose yards per game (181.7) and sixth in kickoff return average (32.7) for the 25th-ranked Sooners .Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Mixons most significant growth has been off the field.Hes really matured well, Stoops said. Hes been an excellent student. Hes never on the list for anything. He does everything you want him to do and been a great teammate. All of it. In the locker room, hes one of the more popular guys because hes a friend to everybody.Mixons growth has a player has been notable, too. He returned last year and was one of the Big 12s best all-around players. This season, hes been even better. Hes the conference leader in all-purpose yards and ranks fourth in rushing. He combines breakaway speed with shiftiness, the hands of a wide receiver and a powerful 6-foot-1, 226-pound frame.While his teammates have struggled at times during a 1-2 start, Mixon has stood out. He scored Oklahomas first touchdown of the season on a 32-yard run. He ran for 117 yards the next game against Louisiana-Monroe. Against Ohio State, he provided one of the few bright spots when he returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. He also ran for 78 yards on just nine carries.Mixon shares carries with Samaje Perine, an established star who is climbing the schools career record books. Still, the Sooners want to get the ball to Mixon as often as possible. This season, Mixon is averaging 8.1 yards per carry and 13.1 yards per catch. He has 998 career yards rushing on just 142 attempts.I think we have to be cognizant and keep track of the number of opportunities he gets, for sure, Stoops said. Hes exceptional when you do target him and give him the opportunity.The elephant in the room remains, in part, because Mixon has been sheltered. He has only spoken with the media once since the incident, when he answered football questions only in a session before the Orange Bowl at the end of last season.He hasnt been interviewed this year, though Stoops said he would consider making him available later in the season.Its something weve talked about and Ive talked about it with the administration, and were working on that, Stoops said. Theres a possibility.Mixon still has his immature moments -- at least, on the field. On his kickoff return touchdown against Ohio State, he dropped the ball at the 1-yard line as he headed into the end zone . The officials didnt catch it, but Stoops did. Stoops said he plans to discuss the incident with Mixon.Itll be positive, Stoops said. Weve got the clips of the other guys that have done it as well. Thats something that will be watched and talked through.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter (at)CliffBruntAP . Jose Juan Barea Jersey .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. Dallas Mavericks Jerseys .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. http://www.mavericksteamofficial.info/dwight-powell-mavericks-jersey/ .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. Luka Doncic Jersey . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. Kostas Antetokounmpo Mavericks Jersey . Shot outdoors against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre.West Ham midfielder Mark Noble picks his #One2Eleven of players he has played against on The Fantasy Football Club. The Hammers skipper has played over 350 times for the club, where he has been since his youth, scoring 38 goals.So who features in his #One2Eleven? Carry on reading to find out... GOALKEEPER: Petr CechWe were 0-0 against Chelsea once and he saved my penalty, which killed me after the game. Every time I played against him I thought: What a goalie. The way he commands the box, he really stands out. I think you can see with Arsenal now, the amount of times Ive watched them now and seen the amount of goals hes saved, one-on-ones in particular. Hes definitely worth 10 or 15 points a season for sure.RIGHT-BACK: Gary NevilleI remember playing against United, and he wasnt in the starting line-up and we were on top, winning 1-0 I think. They got an injury to their right-back, and he came on and changed the game, from right-back. I think he set up a goal in that game, and to change the game from right-back is special.CENTRE-BACKS: Laurent Koscielny and Rio FerdinandWe played Arsenal at the beginning of the season and beat them 2-0. He played against Sakho, and Sakho is quick and strong. I just thought he was phenomenal that day, and I think hes got everything. Hes an unsung hero, hes great for Arsenal and compliments Mertesacker really well. Noble says Laurent Koscielny is one of the best centre-halves he has come up against, alongside Rio Ferdinand LEFT-BACK: Leighton BainesHes punished me before, I got sent off once against Everton and he put two free-kicks into the top corner. Id just scored a penalty, and we were 2-1 up, but from the resulting free-kick from my foul to get me sent off he bent one in the top corner. I just think every time weve played against him hes so clever with the ball.CENTRE MIDFIELD: TugayWhen I was a young kid I played against Blackburn, and he taught me an absolute lesson in how to play midfield. I was young and arrogant and I thought: Oh hes got grey hair, Im going to get in and around him, and he had me on a bit of string for 90 minutes. Ill always tell people about that. Obviously I love Steven Gerrard and I think Frank Lampard is one of the best goal-scoring midfielders the country has ever seen, but Ill have to go with Tugay.dddddddddddd Noble admits Luka Modric saw him coming 10 minutes before he would arrive CENTRE MIDFIELD: Luka ModricI played against him at White Hart Lane, and it was the same as Tugay. In the first 10 minutes, you try to get close to someone, give them a kick early doors and let them know, but for some reason this fella always knew I was coming, 10 minutes before I knew I was going to get there! I love watching him for Madrid, the way he plays the ball with the outside of his right peg.CENTRE MIDFIELD: Paul ScholesScholes, in my eyes, is the best player weve seen in this country in a long, long time.CENTRE FORWARD: Wayne RooneyIt winds me up every time I hear people get on his back, I just think for what hes done for the country and United is phenomenal. With the criticism he gets, hes still the best player at Manchester United in my eyes. Hes a top, top player. Any criticism of Wayne Rooney is unjustified, says Noble CENTRE FORWARD: Fernando TorresEvery time I went to Anfield he scored a hat-trick I think! Even at our place, those few years he was at Liverpool he was just unplayable. The ball used to come into him, and you think: Im going to snatch this, and then the first touch, the way they play it out to the wingers, and his finishing to boot, was just phenomenal.CENTRE FORWARD: Didier DrogbaHe always seemed to score against us, whether with his head or feet, he just grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck as a centre forward. He is a special player. The memories Ive got as a player, these are the players who stand out.Watch The Fantasy Football Club at 6.30pm on Sky Sports 1 HD on Friday Also See: The FantasyFC Soccer AM Sunday Supplement Goals on Sunday ' ' '