Spring Preview: Oklahoma WR Unit Could Be One of Nation's Best
Oklahoma has a handful of uncertainties on the offensive side of the ball entering a new era of SEC football.
With a first-year offensive coordinator and a new-look offensive line and a new quarterback slated to start just the second game of his career, there could be growing pains. Luckily for QB Jackson Arnold and coordinator Seth Littrell, they'll have a room full of the best weapons in the country to throw to.
OU lost a true if somewhat unexpected star in the receiver room with Drake Stoops heading to the NFL, and his presence will be missed on and off the field. He was Oklahoma’s top wide receiver a season ago, recording a Big 12-leading 84 catches for 962 yards and a league-high 10 touchdowns.
The 2024 team has enough talent at the position to help soften the blow of his departure, although it'll need to start to develop this spring.
The Sooners’ strongest position group on the roster, both sides of the ball, could very well be Emmett Jones’ group. With a mix of experience, youth and potential, there’s a lot to be excited about if you’re an Oklahoma fan.
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Oklahoma’s receiver room took a massive hit when Michigan transfer Andrel Anthony went down against Texas. He was Dillon Gabriel’s blossoming No. 1 option and OU’s best deep ball threat. The good news for Oklahoma is that Anthony should be back on the outside and penciled in as a starter. He had 429 yards and a score on 27 receptions, averaging 71.5 yards per game, before tearing his ACL. His full availability for spring practice and his continued development will be huge for the offense.
Next to Anthony, Jalil Farooq brings experience too. The rising senior struggled with ball security late in the season, but that shouldn’t take away from his full body of work as a reliable talent at Oklahoma.
Farooq has been with the Sooners since the 2021 season, when he showcased a promising connection with Caleb Williams late in the season. From there, he has taken a leap every year. Last season, Farooq hauled in 45 catches for 694 and two touchdowns while adding another 95 yards on the ground. His role was unclear at times last season, taking handoffs and jet sweeps, sometimes even from the running back position. In a new offense with talented playmakers around him, he should thrive.
Farooq also mentioned moving around to the slot after the season was over, and he very well could see a handful of reps there. He’d certainly be effective, and may give it a go there this spring.
But it’s unlikely that he finds a home there full time, because Oklahoma’s prized possession out of the transfer portal could star in that spot. Deion Burks, lightning in a bottle from Purdue, adds a whole new element to Littrell’s new offense.
Anthony and Farooq provide the experience and Burks gives the Sooners a normally sure-handed star. Burks did have eight drops last season for the Boilermakers, but also was dynamic after the catch (223 YAC). He caught 92 percent of his pass snaps came lined up wide, but the Sooners are stacked at those two spots, so he might be a good candidate to use this spring to work inside.
The highest upside on the team belongs to Nic Anderson. The rising redshirt sophomore burst onto the scene for Oklahoma, quickly developing a connection with Dillon Gabriel and finding a knack for the end zone. Anderson totaled 798 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Sooners on just 38. He averaged 61.4 yards per game and 21.4 yards per catch. He has legitimate next-level potential and could break out in a big way.
The Sooners' projected backups are more than capable of producing big numbers on any given Saturday. Jayden Gibson and Brenen Thompson will likely be called upon most, as Gibson offers size and Thompson offers speed.
Although Gibson didn’t break out quite as much as his fellow sophomore Anderson, he still took a big leap. The 6-foot-5 receiver recorded 375 yards and five touchdowns on 14 catches. He totaled just one reception in 2022 and became a reliable target this past season.
Thompson transferred in from Texas late last offseason, and it took time for him to get acclimated to the offense. His potential was evident when he was on the field though. He’s a burner when he gets by the secondary and recorded 241 yards and two touchdowns on just seven catches. In the Alamo Bowl, he had his best performance of the year with 83 yards and another long TD. Thompson was actually Pro Football Focus' top-graded wide receiver all of last season with a grade of 94.3, no doubt boosted by his 34 yards per catch.
Outside of that, Jaquaize Pettaway is a talented youngster that could see the field with a big spring. He was a highly rated recruit and can carve out a spot in the rotation. Gavin Freeman had a disappointing sophomore season, with 95 yards and a touchdown on 19 catches (5.0 yards per catch), but the coaching staff still seems high on his potential. He could back up Burks in the slot and help make up for the loss of Stoops.
Oklahoma added a quartet of wide receivers in the 2024 class in Kelly Daniels, Zion Ragins, Ivan Carreon and Zion Kearney, but with the depth in the room, it's hard to imagine a ton of meaningful snaps up for grabs in the fall, even if the new arrivals get lots of practice reps this spring.
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