Oklahoma backup Samaje Perine makes the most of starting role

Oklahoma running back Samaje Perine piled up 242 yards and four touchdowns Saturday night as the Sooners defeated a pass-happy West Virginia squad 45-33.

Filling in for an injured Keith Ford, the freshman Perine made the most of his first career start, carrying the ball 34 times.

In the second half, the 244-pounder broke lose for three of his four scores, including a 19-yarder to cap his night off.

"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 told reporters earlier this week.

Depend on him they did, as Perine easily trumped the 177 yards he had compiled in Oklahoma's previous three games.

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

"I look for contact for the most part," Perine said before the game. "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."

With Ford potentially out for more than just one week, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops may well lean on his freshman once again. No. 4 Oklahoma (4-0) takes on TCU (2-0) in two weeks on the road.