NORMAN — The Oklahoma offense bought nearly something it wished on Saturday.
Led by returning starter Dillon Gabriel, the Sooner offense ran 100 performs in opposition to Kansas (5-2), placing 52 factors on the board and exploding for 701 complete yards.
OU dominated on the bottom, however a majority of the explosive performs got here via the air in opposition to the Jayhawks.
Gabriel accomplished 29 passes for 403 yards, and 7 totally different Sooners caught a number of passes.
Six of these seven caught balls for 15 yards or extra, with working again Eric Gray hauling in a 13-yard cross as properly.
The Sooners (4-3) wasted no time taking to the skies both, as six of the 9 performs on OU’s opening drive have been known as passes.
“The biggest thing is we wanted to take what they gave us,” OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby mentioned of the pass-happy begin. “Talked all week about Kansas being great against the run. They play with great energy and toughness, and that’s what you saw from them. Statistically, they’d been really good against the run. We liked our matchups, guys made plays. It was good to get it going that way.”
Marvin Mims was the best beneficiary of the aerial assault, because the gifted huge receiver was focused 15 instances on Saturday.
Gabriel linked with Mims on 9 of these targets, and Mims ended the competition with 106 receiving yards.
Saturday was probably the most concerned Mims had ever been concerned at Oklahoma, as he’s by no means seen that many targets all through his keep in Norman.
“Definitely not in college, maybe in high school my senior year,” Mims mentioned. “It’s been a while.
“It was great, being home was great too. Just from everybody, throwing the ball, everybody was making plays. … It was a great atmosphere. Just fun to go out there and make plays with my brothers.”
Tight finish Brayden Willis completed the sport with 5 catches, and huge receivers Theo Wease, Drake Stoops and Jalil Farooq all hauled in 4 balls as Gabriel unfold the wealth.
Wease completed with 46 yards and a rating, and Willis was the opposite Sooner to cross the century mark in receiving yards in opposition to Kansas.
The veteran tight finish posted 102 yards and a landing, persevering with what has been a profession 12 months up to now.
Willis has thrived in Lebby’s offense, because the Sooner play caller has loved using his particular skillset within the passing sport.
“I don’t know if I knew (Willis’ abilities) Day 1, but after about 10 days of being here, I did,” Lebby mentioned. “Watching his tape and again, every time I’ve had an opportunity to brag on him, sing his praises, I have.
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“You’re just seeing a guy that’s been incredibly unselfish, has worked incredibly hard and is now creating a ton of production for himself, which to me is really fun to see.”
The manufacturing in OU’s passing sport filtered down past the standard suspects in opposition to Kansas.
Stoops’ 4 catches constituted a career-high. Lebby even known as on him for a pair of rushes.
True freshman Gavin Freeman as soon as once more added a play to his spotlight reel as properly.
Against UTEP, Freeman scored on his first-ever profession contact, taking a reverse 44 yards to the home.
He didn’t rating Saturday, however Freeman’s lone catch in opposition to Kansas was maybe extra spectacular than his dashing landing.
Streaking down the sideline, Gabriel regarded as if he may need overthrown Freeman. The Heritage Hall product was to not be denied, nevertheless, as Freeman dove ahead and hauled in a 41-yard catch at full extension, touchdown with the ball simply shy of the purpose line.
“He’s electric,” Mims mentioned. “Gavin, I love his personality. I’m sitting there right next to him in the receiver room every day.
“Just the guy he is, I can’t tell you what we talk about but he’s just a funny dude. He’s just a kid and it’s nice to be around him. I see him going out there and having fun, he always has a great attitude.”
Headed into the bye week, the arrogance can be flowing out of the huge receiver room.
The unit entered the 12 months as a little bit of a query mark after shedding Jadon Haselwood and Mario Williams to the switch portal, whereas Wease battled again from an harm that stored him out of the 2021 season and Farooq tried to spin his momentum from the Alamo Bowl ahead into 2022.
With Gabriel again within the fold, OU’s huge receivers appear to be distinction makers throughout the sphere, one thing Lebby hopes will carry into the again half of the season.
“I think the biggest thing is our guys made plays,” Lebby mentioned. “We talked a ton about it. We’re going to pitch and catch, but you’ve got to make plays and make competitive plays in certain situations. That showed up today situationally, which was great to see.
“Again, plenty to clean up. But proud of our guys, the way they came back, fought, been inside-out the entire time. Just proud of them for it.”
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