The Oklahoma Sooners’ wide receiver depth has taken a hit over the last month. [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] is out for the season, and [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] is out for the next six to eight weeks.
[autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] are working their way back into the mix. Anthony earned some playing time in the Week 1 win over Temple, playing eight snaps. But the Sooners are easing Anthony back into game action after his ACL injury suffered less than a year ago in the Red River Showdown.
So, where will the Sooners turn for wide receiver help? It sounds like another banged-up wide receiver could be ready to break out. [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag], a four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, has been dealing with a hamstring injury the last couple of weeks, according to Brent Venables. However, the Sooners’ head coach believes he could be an answer at wide receiver for the Sooners.
“He’s fast, he’s got a good catch radius,” Venables said. “He’s really an explosive player. He had a hamstring injury the last few weeks that just kind of kept him from being full speed.”
Pettaway didn’t play much as a true freshman. He had nine receptions for 56 yards in the 2023 season opener against Arkansas State but only two more receptions on the season. Though there weren’t many opportunities for snaps last year, that’s not the case in 2024.
The Sooners will likely roll with Brenen Thompson and J.J. Hester as the starters on the outside this week and [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] in the slot. But the Sooners could look to play Pettaway or Burks in three- and four-wide receiver sets. If they want to keep Anthony in a rotation role, Pettaway gives Oklahoma a speedy option on the outside or in the slot.
Going with the speed and quickness threats of Burks, Thompson and Pettaway gives OU and quarterback Jackson Arnold options in the quick passing game. Each possesses elite speed that can create separation quickly, giving Arnold the ability to get the ball out of his hands before the pass rush can get to him.
Could this week against Houston provide Pettaway an opportunity to cement his role in the rotation? He has the traits to be a big-time playmaker for Oklahoma.
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