After [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag] had a breakout 2022 season, there was a lot of optimism for what the Sooners could get out of [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag], who returned from South Carolina for 2023.
It didn’t materialize that way. Although the offense was incredibly efficient and put a ton of points on the board, it played behind the 8-ball with limited production at tight end.
With Stogner getting the vast majority of the work, Sooners tight ends combined for 20 receptions for 252 yards and two touchdowns. In 2022, Willis had 39 receptions for 514 yards and seven touchdowns to finish second on the team in receiving.
That’s the kind of production the Sooners need heading into the SEC.
In an effort to get more out of the tight end spot in their offesens, the Sooners scoured the transfer portal and brought in the uber-athletic and tough [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag] and do-it all veteran [autotag]Jake Roberts[/autotag] to lead the position in 2024.
Sharp is a converted quarterback, but garnered a lot of praise during spring ball. His athleticism and toughness received rave reviews but it’s going to be a big step going from Southeastern Louisiana to the Southeastern Conference.
Roberts missed much of the spring recovering from an injury, but he’s played nearly 1,800 snaps and was a part of [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag]’s North Texas teams before transferring to Baylor for the 2022 season. Last year for the Bears, Roberts had 23 receptions for 231 yards and a touchdown.
It’s likely those two will take on much of the workload for the Sooners this season, but young guns like [autotag]Kade McIntyre[/autotag], [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag], and [autotag]Davon Mitchell[/autotag] could earn some snaps as well. Each guy has a ton of athleticism that could provide another playmaking element to the Sooners passing game.
Though wide receiver has garnered much of the attention this offseason for the Sooners’ passing attack, Oklahoma needs to get more out of the tight end spot in 2024. And with what they’ve done on the recruiting trail and in the transfer portal, they’ve got the talent to make it happen.
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