Oklahoma’s extensive receiver room, like the remainder of the offense, had vivid spots within the midst of inconsistency.
Things obtained off to a rocky begin after extensive receivers coach Cale Gundy was dismissed from the crew proper earlier than the season started. After Gundy’s abrupt departure assistant wideouts coach  L’Damian Washington stepped in because the interim for the rest of the season.
2022 OU Report Cards:
- Wednesday, Jan. 4: Defensive Ends
- Thursday, Jan. 5: Offensive Line
- Friday, Jan. 6: Defensive Tackles
- Saturday, Jan. 7: Tight Ends
- Sunday, Jan. 8: Linebackers
- Monday, Jan. 9: Wide Receivers
- Tuesday, Jan. 10: Cornerbacks
- Wednesday, Jan. 11: Running Backs
- Thursday, Jan. 12: Safeties
- Friday, Jan. 13: Quarterbacks
- Saturday, Jan. 14: Special Teams
- Sunday, Jan. 15: Coaching Staff
The midseason damage to Dillon Gabriel affected the Sooners’ go catchers probably the most, and from that time on, it was exhausting to get the unit on the identical web page for 4 quarters.
Oklahoma’s main receiver was, as soon as once more, Marvin Mims. The junior from Frisco, TX, crossed the 1,000-yard threshold for the primary time in his profession, recording 1,083 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. His acrobatic catches helped OU’s offense tremendously, and he was one among Oklahoma’s solely true big-play threats. Prior to 2023, probably the most receiving yards Mims had recorded in a single season was 705.
Behind Mims, each Jalil Farooq and Drake Stoops ate away a justifiable share of targets.
Farooq stepped into an even bigger function over the course of his second season in Norman, ending with 37 catches for 466 yards and 5 touchdowns. He was additionally utilized in different methods as a gadget participant, too, dashing for 140 yards on 15 carries.
Not far behind Farooq, Stoops completed the season with 393 yards and three touchdowns. He turned one among Gabriel’s favourite targets along with his sure-handedness offensively, constantly reeling in robust catches close to the sticks.
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Theo Wease additionally obtained in on the motion, recording 378 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. Wease’s catch radius was capable of get him in the long run zone a number of instances this season.Â
Oklahoma’s extensive assortment of playmakers actually appeared to unfold the statistics out, because the Sooners had six gamers with over 200 receiving yards. Two of the six occurred to be tight finish Brayden Willis and operating again Eric Gray, making the distribution that a lot tougher among the many wideouts.
Oklahoma’s assortment of younger expertise, together with Jayden Gibson, Nic Anderson, LV Bunkley-Shelton and J.J. Hester, didn’t see a lot on-field motion over the course of the season. The gifted playmakers ought to get extra alternatives to shine with the departures of veterans within the room.
The Sooners’ largest blow of the offseason was dropping Mims to the NFL Draft. In addition to his departure, Wease introduced his switch to Missouri, leaving Oklahoma instantly brief handed.
Currently, the receiver room will likely be spearheaded by Stoops and Farooq, who will each must reel in additional passes this fall. Farooq appears to be subsequent in line as Oklahoma’s breakout receiver, and he’ll have loads of alternatives in 2023. It appears probably that the Sooners will look into including a large receiver or two extra by way of the switch portal earlier than spring ball begins.Â
Neither of this yr’s true freshmen, Keyon Brown or Jaquaize Pettaway, will likely be out there within the spring as each are enrolling subsequent summer time Â
There’s so much using on the event of Oklahoma’s younger go catchers this offseason.
Grading the extensive receivers:
- Hoover: B
- Chapman: B-
- Callaway: B+
- Lovelace: B
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