The Oklahoma Sooners’ passing game is full of big-play threats. From Marvin Mims to Theo Wease, Spencer Rattler has a bevy of options to work with to put points on the board for the Sooners.
One player that will be a sight for sore eyes when Oklahoma takes the field in Week 1 of the 2021 season is Austin Stogner.
Stogner, the Sooners starting tight end, missed the final two games of the Big 12 season and the Big 12 Championship. He played sparingly in the Sooners 55-20 win over the Florida Gators in the Cotton Bowl. Still, he managed to finish third on the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
Stogner’s 60 yards receiving per game were the most for the Oklahoma Sooners. Marvin Mims, who had the most receiving yards in 2020, only averaged 55 yards per game in his freshman season.
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Like the best tight ends before him, Stogner was a huge target for Spencer Rattler in the middle of the field. He provided a reliable third-down option and a deep play threat down the seam. His size makes him a mismatch for corners and safeties, while his ability to move down the field makes him a difficult cover for linebackers.
The return of Stogner to a passing attack that features Mims, Wease, Haselwood, Mario Williams, Drake Stoops, Mike Woods, Jalil Farooq and Eric Gray means trouble for the Big 12 and everyone else on the Sooners schedule. While they’re talented, they don’t have anyone that can do what Stogner does down the middle of the field.
After his injury and what turned out to be a scary recovery from an infection to that leg, Stogner will be the key to Spencer Rattler’s Heisman contention and the Sooners national championship aspirations.