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Every wide receiver wants the ball in their hands. That’s the element of the game that shows up on the stat sheet, and it’s what everyone sees on Sportcenter. The catches or the big runs are the plays that make everyone go wow. At the same time, catching the ball is just one element of a wide receiver’s game. Though receiving ability may be the part that gets all the accolades, it’s blocking that will endear a player to a coach and the fans looking for it.
It’s the little things or the dirty work that often goes unnoticed but can stand out in a big way when watching a play develop. Generally, there’s a wide receiver somewhere on the field blocking to make a play happen on any significant play.
Like this work of art from wide receiver Jadon Haselwood against Kansas State.
Jadon Haselwood went bowling against KSU's defense. 😱 pic.twitter.com/P99jGuFglh
— Sooner Gridiron (@soonergridiron) October 4, 2021
On Tuesday, Drake Stoops was asked about blocking and the Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver group when speaking with the media. Here’s what he had to say.
I think our whole receiving corp takes pride in our blocking because if we can pick up our blocks then we can spring someone else. And then we hope in turn that that person will spring the block for us so we can spring the big run. So we all just trust each other, we’ve got each other’s backs and we know that we’re going to lay ourselves down on the line for the other one. – Stoops
Blocking takes sacrifice. It’s the ultimate act of service on a football field. Because it says, “I’m going to do whatever it takes to help my teammate.” It’s the embodiment of the “we,” not “me” mentality. And the Oklahoma Sooners do it at a very high level.
Of the top 10 run blockers for the Oklahoma Sooners who have played at least three games, four of them are wide receivers per Pro Football Focus. Mario Williams, Jadon Haselwood, Drake Stoops, and Trevon West lead the Sooners wide receivers as blockers, with Michael Woods just outside the top 10 per PFF.
Because Lincoln Riley and the Oklahoma Sooners offense want to run the ball as much as they do, the wide receivers must take their job in the run game seriously. The Sooners love to run outside, and a wide receiver winning their blocking matchup makes that much easier. If the cornerback isn’t allowed to pinch down to set the edge and force the runner back inside to where the defensive pursuit is coming from.
The Oklahoma Sooners wide receivers are a tight group. They aren’t worried about individual accolades. They’re concerned about getting wins. When your leading receiver Marvin Mims speaks to the media and says, “I’ll do anything for this team I can to help us win.” He said that during a three-game stretch where he had five receptions, matching his week one total.
When one of your best players speaks with humility, it speaks volumes to the rest of the team.
We’ve talked a lot about the talent of the Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver corp. It’s the deepest position group on the team. That was true before the season started and has held through the first five weeks of the season. They’re proving it week in and week out. Not only are they proving it on the stat sheet, but also in their willingness and ability to block for the team.