Oklahoma TE Kaden Helms Details ‘One of the Hardest Tests’ of His Life as He Works to Get Back

Sooners tight end Kaden Helms has dealt with major injuries since arriving in Norman, but is still determined to earn a spot in the rotation next season.

Oklahoma tight end Kaden Helms / Kaden Helms via Twitter

NORMAN — After two injury-plagued seasons at Oklahoma, redshirt sophomore tight end Kaden Helms is looking forward to getting back on the field in 2024.

Dealing with a season-ending knee injury prior his redshirt freshman campaign, Helms has appeared in just three games and recorded one catch for four yards in his OU career. 

On Wednesday night, however, Helms told reporters that, despite dealing with a few minor ailments, he is nearing full health once again and is ready to make an impact as the Sooners transition to the SEC next season. 

"My health is pretty good actually. ... So overall, really excited about how I've come along regarding my health status and stuff like that. So I'm excited to get back to the guys," Helms said. 

"It feels like it's been a long time coming and I don't think I've been more hungry to get back and to play with my guys. You know, just get back to doing what I love best, that's playing football, so I can't be more thankful."

Coming out of high school, Helms was a 4-star recruit, rated the No. 16 tight end in the 2022 recruiting class, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings. 

With a lackluster showing from Oklahoma’s tight ends last year, Joe Jon Finley and company could have used Helms’ athleticism and receiving ability, as Austin Stogner and Blake Smith took the majority of the team’s snaps at tight end.

Stogner finished the season with 17 catches for 196 yards and one touchdown while Smith recorded just two catches for 30 yards and a touchdown. The only other OU tight end to catch a pass in 2023 was Kade McIntyre, who also fell victim to a season-ending injury. 

Helms said that not being able to get on the field and help his team was frustrating, adding that he is more motivated now than ever before. 

"It's been probably one of the hardest tests of my life. I know God, you know, he has a plan for me. I'm trying my best to stick to that plan," Helms said. 

"I mean, I can kind of find some good out of it. I've never been more motivated than I am, more hungry to get back. ... I think, you know, this will really help me kind of get a new perspective for things, appreciate what I have for what it is.

“I think once I fully get back, I'm just going to be a different person overall."

Despite his health problems, Helms said that his position coach has been very supportive while the now-redshirt sophomore was sidelined with a knee injury. Finley, who played tight end at OU, was promoted to co-offensive coordinator after Jeff Lebby accepted a head coaching position at Mississippi State. 

With Finley now helping call the Sooners’ system, Helms said that he is looking forward to seeing how Oklahoma’s offense changes next season. 

"You know, you kind of think you know stuff but once you really get to college, you understand that you don't know as much as you (think you) do and Finley has done a really good job of helping me kind of slow things down," Helms said.  

"He helps us really like kind of dumb things down and makes the game just easier for us to understand basically. That's my guy, he hits me up every week about my health, how I'm doing mentally, stuff like that. ... I think (Finley and Seth Littrell) bring a lot of diversity to the offense and you'll definitely see more tight end volume this year."

With Davon Mitchell, Bauer Sharp and Jake Roberts all in the fold now for Finley and company, OU’s tight end room is completely revamped. Still, adding Helms talent to the mix will create an even deeper position group as the Bellevue, NE, product looks to work his way into the rotation.

Playing such a physical position in one of the toughest conferences in college football, having depth at the tight end position will be very important for the Sooners, as any one of their other options could deal with their own injury issues throughout the upcoming season.

This article originally published on March 27, 2024.