Trevor Knight will start for Oklahoma in the Sooners' Week 1 game against Louisiana-Monroe, head coach Bob Stoops announced in a statement released Thursday evening.

"Both Trevor and Blake (Bell) have competed hard and both will be ready to play against Louisiana-Monroe," Stoops said in the statement. "Like every other position on our team, I expect them both to continue competing for the starting job."

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In recent days, there were reports that Knight was going to be tabbed as the starter, but Stoops denied a decision had been made.

Knight beat out junior Blake Bell for the starting job, an upset many failed to anticipate going into fall camp. Bell, nicknamed "the Belldozer" due to his impressive stature (6'6, 252 pounds), made a name for himself rushing in short-yardage situations over the last two years, and most fans and pundits assumed he was the heir apparent to Landry Jones. But some people close to the program and familiar with OU's fall camp have said Knight, a redshirt freshman, has been the more consistent player.

Last season, Bell carried 60 times for 201 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2011, he gained 171 yards and 13 scores on 44 rushes.

The Sooners and Warhawks meet Aug. 31 at Oklahoma's Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET.

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