Why Oklahoma WR Manny Choice’s Role Might Grow in 2026

NORMAN — In just over a year at Oklahoma, Manny Choice has gone from learner to leader.

Choice, a wide receiver that signed with OU as part of the Sooners’ 2025 recruiting class, saw his role increase in the back half of last season. He played in nine games on special teams and also made two offensive appearances in 2025.

After one week of spring practice, OU coach Brent Venables believes that Choice can take an even bigger step in 2026.

“(He) had a great offseason,” Venables said. “I expect some really big things from Manny.”

Choice stands 6-4, and he was listed on OU’s 2025 roster at 195 pounds. Now, he weighs 210 pounds.

The version of Choice that showed up to spring ball is far different than the one that enrolled last year, according to Oklahoma offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.

“Last year he showed up as this tall, skinny kid who was just swimming out there,” Arbuckle said. “Just trying to get lined up was a huge win.”

Choice made his college football debut on special teams in OU’s 39-point win over Temple on Sept. 13. The Sooners continued to utilize him on their special teams formations throughout the year, and he made brief offensive appearances in their lopsided wins against South Carolina and Kent State.

After one year in OU’s offense, Choice is now better suited to be a key offensive contributor, per Arbuckle.

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“He's seeing the whole picture, he's seeing the field better, he's understating leverage and how to attack things,” Arbuckle said.

Because Choice appeared in nine games last year, he didn’t get to preserve his redshirt in 2025.

But as a sophomore, he’s still one of the youngest players in the wide receiver room — but he doesn’t act like it.

“In the receivers room today, I asked a question to the slots and Manny answered it,” Arbuckle said. “I'm like, 'Huh… Manny's figuring it out big time.' You want to talk about a dude who just keeps his mouth shut and works — he can't get enough reps out there. He pushes people out of the way, he volunteers to get reps.”

OU’s wide receiver room is in a good position heading into the fall.

The Sooners retained Isaiah Sategna, who caught 67 passes for 965 yards and eight touchdowns last year, after the 2025 season. They also added three receivers — Parker Livingstone, Trell Harris and Mackenzie Alleyne — from the transfer portal.

Though the position group is deep and crowded, Choice is someone that Venables believes can help elevate the offense.

“He's a really big-bodied guy that's really explosive,” Venables said. “We got him on special teams at the end of the year, and that helped create some momentum going into this year.”