It's time to shine for Oklahoma's bruising backup Samaje Perine

The Oklahoma Sooners have a good problem on their hands.

With starting running back Keith Ford out for at least a week with a fractured foot, backup Samaje Perine will have ample opportunity to make the most of a starting role.

All eyes will be on the 19-year-old Perine this Saturday when the Sooners head to Morgantown to play West Virginia. Several critics are already saying that he'll be able to rise to the occasion. 

"It's a great feeling for me that the coaches have such respect for me and are able to depend on me this much early in my career," Perine said.

The muscle-bound 243-pound bulldozing back has already been the focus of campus-wide stories, like how he was mistaken for a parent more than once during his official visit to Oklahoma. 

He's carried the ball 32 times for 177 yards and one touchdown this season and just two of those carries went for negative yardage. 

NewsOklahoma wondered if he was ready to carry the expanded work load, and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops answered quick.

"Oh absolutely,” Stoops told the news outlet. “We love him. You saw him out there (Saturday). He’s an excellent runner. Even when there’s not much there he finds a way to make something happen with his power.”

Co-offensive coordinator Josh Heupel said the coaching staff never really knows how a player will respond until they get on the field. Perine quelled any fears early on. 

"During training camp, he was a very mature player and we felt like he was going to handle everything really well," Heupel said.

Perine was Oklahoma's third-string back entering the opener against Louisiana Tech, but he led the Sooners with 77 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. 

Given his stature, its no surprise that he's a gym rat as well: he said he's bench-pressed 20 reps at 275 pounds. Meanwhile his website says he has benched 435 pounds and inclined 375.

"I look for contact for the most part," Perine said. "I'm not the one that will try to juke you. I will if I have to, but I don't look to do that much."