Oklahoma DC Mike Stoops blasts Charles Walker for 'quitting on his teammates'

Charles Walker’s decision to leave Oklahoma and focus on his NFL future didn’t sit well with Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, who blasted the redshirt junior defensive end.

“Quitting on your teammates is hard to take, as a coach,” Stoops said. “That’s everything we stand for — our commitment to one another and, for whatever reason, that wasn’t there for him. He thought this was a better avenue so you would have to ask him for those (answers).”

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops announced Tuesday that Walker was leaving the program. Walker, who was a preseason All-American, suffered a concussion against TCU on Oct. 1 and hasn’t played since. It was his second known concussion as a Sooner. He missed last year’s Orange Bowl because of the same injury.

The Sooners also lost fellow defensive end Matt Dimon, who Stoops said also quit the team. Dimon was hurt during the first half of Oklahoma’s 45-24 loss to Ohio State on Sept. 17 and hadn’t played since. Bob Stoops said Dimon’s decision to leave was the result of multiple issues, including his injury.

Both Walker and Dimon were starters before their injuries.

Mike Stoops said the departures of both players ends a locker room distraction that had been prevalent most of the season.

“You can’t have guys coming and going and have a group of players committed to what they’re doing day in and day out, putting all the time and energy into it,” Mike Stoops said. “It’s not fair to the players that are on our team if they’re not committed to the team.”

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday