Back on Offense, WR D.J. Graham is 'Hungry' for More After Oklahoma's Spring Game

NORMAN — After patiently waiting for three years, D.J. Graham finally took snaps at wide receiver in front of Oklahoma fans on Saturday.

His work paid off in the third quarter of the spring game, where he hauled in a couple of catches and displayed some nice moves in the open field to end the contest with a team-leading 74 receiving yards.

The performance capped off a big spring for Graham.

The Fort Worth, TX, product is one of a number of guys looking to step up in an OU wide receiver room that will have to replace Marvin Mims in 2023.

The arrival of Emmett Jones to coach the pass catchers provided a blank slate for many — something that excited Graham after he switched sides of the ball in the middle of the 2022 season.

“(Jones) has a clean slate with this program,” Graham said on Saturday. “Virtually we all have a clean slate, except for the two guys that really played last year.

“We’re a youthful room. So for him to come in and have a clean slate with us, it’s like proving to him who he can trust. … He says it a lot, he just doesn’t want four guys, he wants a whole room.”

Jones has great respect from OU’s wide receivers for everything he brings to the table.

Multiple players have talked about his attention to detail throughout spring practice, including the amount of video clips he’s able to use to teach the group about all aspects of playing the position.

But perhaps more important to Graham has been Jones’ ability to instill confidence while also getting his point across.

That aspect of Jones’ personality has allowed Graham to feel comfortable back on his preferred side the ball, allowing him to feel like a wide receiver again throughout the 15 practices over the past month.

“There was a route I ran like two practices ago,” said Graham, “and I was like, ‘OK, I’m starting to feel it again.’ Coach Jones, he’s been pushing me, and he’s been a confidence booster.

“He’s talked to me, and he’s told me I take coaching well. … So now I feel like I’m back in receiver mode.”

The wide-open nature of OU’s receivers behind Jalil Farooq and Drake Stoops means the coaching staff has faith that Graham can work his way into the rotation.

But the work has to continue at a steady pace. It can’t just stop after Saturday’s scrimmage and resume in fall camp if Graham wants to carve out a role for himself this season.

“He's got to keep coming,” offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby said on Saturday. “… I think D.J. has got a lot of ability. He's got to continue to grow and master the position.

“The next three months for him are going to be critical for his growth and development at that position.”

For Graham, continuing to digest the playbook will be key over the summer months.

“I think it will continue to be the biggest thing for me because I think I got the confidence,” he said, “It’s just be a pro and learn the playbook.

“Not only learn the outside but then get to a point where I know the outside so well, I can be able to be plugged in on the inside. So it’s just getting from that point on learning the whole playbook and learning the inside and out.”

Once the mental side of the game becomes second nature for Graham, his teammates have full faith that his ability can show through in a big way on game days.

“D.J.’s one of the fastest guys in the receiver room,” fellow wide reviewer Gavin Freeman said. “He has the best hands. He has insane hands. But it's good for him because he balls out every single day.”

Graham has already made memories on Owen Field in his career, but his humble nature and work ethic are what he hopes will propel him into adding to his highlight reel this fall.

“I’m grateful to be in the position I am right now,” he said. “Yeah, of course, I would love to be going with the 1s, but that’ll come. I’m confident in myself that later down the road that I’ll start to get those opportunities.

“But right now, I’m content. But I’m hungry right now and when fall camp comes around, it’s time to get it on.”

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