Why Nic Anderson Believes Oklahoma's Pass Catchers Are 'Ready' For Larger Roles
NORMAN — The back half of the regular season has become a huge opportunity for Oklahoma’s wide receivers.
The No. 6-ranked Sooners unfortunately lost breakout star Andrel Anthony for the season in OU’s 34-30 win over Texas, but new wide receivers coach Emmett Jones has done an exceptional job developing depth at the position through the first six weeks.
Other than Anthony, who leads the team with 429 receiving yards, eight different wide receivers have caught passes in 2023, not to mention the contributions from tight end Austin Stogner and a host of OU running backs.
More than just a deep threat, Anthony was one of quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s safety valves on third down, but the extra snaps to go around will serve as an opportunity for younger pass catches to step into a major role.
Jayden Gibson and Nic Anderson got the first crack at filling the void in the fourth quarter against Texas, as Gibson was targeted twice by Gabriel and Anthony caught the game winning touchdown catch to send the Crimson half of the Cotton Bowl into a frenzy.
Texas transfer Brenen Thompson opened his OU account against Iowa State, catching two passes for 62 yards, and his speed will give him an opportunity to replicate the vertical stress Anthony put on opposing defenses.
“I think as a unit,” Gabriel said on Monday, “… I just want you to know that as a group I think we have to step up for someone who’s missing.”
Between Gibson, Anderson and Thompson, it’s been Anderson who has gotten the most chances through the first half of the regular season.
The redshirt freshman is third on the team with 282 yards, and leads all Sooner pass catchers with six touchdowns on 11 catches.
Finding the end zone has given Anderson plenty of confidence through the first six games, and he’s excited for the chance to get the ball even more starting with Saturday’s contest against the UCF Knights.
“I just get it as it comes,” Anderson said on Monday. “I’m just ready for the opportunities when they arise and those catches were just there for the taking and I took them.”
Though Anderson has been behind Anthony, Jalil Farooq and Drake Stoops in the pecking order, Gabriel has full faith in the young receiver to continue and improve in 2023.
“(Anderson’s) got some stuff that you can’t coach,” Gabriel said. “And on top of that, he’s very coachable, so you mix the two—he’s very talented and very smart, so he’s just been able to take advantage of every opportunity when he’s in.
“It’s funny how things work out, but him being in, and the OU-Texas game, one catch and one touchdown in the most crucial moment. That just shows how much we trust him and his ability.”
Gibson has six catches for 159 yards and two scores, and is playing with a different level of confidence after he said he matured a great deal during his first year in Norman a season ago.
And Thompson has the feel of a player who is just getting started.
He ran behind two Iowa State defenders to pull down a 54-yard catch in his first week back in action, and Thompson’s physical traits have made quit the impression on his teammates.
“Man, that dude's a weapon,” Anderson said. “I mean, he's fast as all get out. As long as you have someone like him on the field, he's gonna change the game. So I can't wait for him to be back on the field.”
No single player is expected to completely offset Anthony’s production, but Oklahoma’s wide receivers feel they’ve put in the work all year to stay prepared for the task at hand over the final six regular season games.
“We're all ready,” Anderson said. “… It's been talked about since the beginning of the season. We have a lot of competitive depth and everyone's ready to step up and fill that place.
“If somebody goes down we were ready for that moment. And we'll be ready for the rest of the season, filling his shoes and make sure that we don't lose a step.”
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