Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops released a statement after the Kansas City Chiefs selected OT Donald Stephenson in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft.

"Donald's career was a crescendo. His productivity got a little better with each game and his last two years in our program were particularly productive. We take a lot of pride in the way we protect our quarterbacks, and Donald had great responsibility while playing left tackle last season. He grew into that role and handled it well for us. I think he'll continue to grow as a professional."

Crescendo is an interesting word. A good one, I suppose, if you want the player to be getting better.

Other Oklahoma tidbits from our our Sooners blog, Crimson and Cream Machine:

• Oklahoma pro day report: Stephenson will get drafted but "probably not before the fourth round."
• Sooners are losing their "most important" player on the offensive line
• Season-ending grades - B+