Tag: Deion Burks

Sooners have a top 10 WR corps in the country according to PFF

Oklahoma is deep and talented at wide receiver this year, and Pro Football Focus ranked the Sooners as one of the ten best WR units in America.

The Oklahoma Sooners have an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position heading into the 2024 season. As OU football exits the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] and moves to the [autotag]SEC[/autotag], they’ll be leaning on their strengths in Year 3 of the [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] era. Wide receiver is one of the deepest and most talented units on the roster, even after losing [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag].

[autotag]Emmett Jones[/autotag] has been excellent since joining the Oklahoma staff from Texas Tech. He’s recruited very well and the unit improved noticeably in his first season as wide receivers coach.

Pro Football Focus agrees that the Sooners are very good at wideout heading into 2024, ranking the Sooners as one of their top 10 receiving corps in the country.

Oklahoma snuck onto the list at No. 10.

Oklahoma brings back five of its six leading receivers from a year ago, losing only Drake Stoops. [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] is the leader of those returners and was second in the Big 12 last year with 10 touchdowns to only Adonai Mitchell. [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] and [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] also came back and combined for 1,109 receiving yards this past season.

The Sooners also found a couple starting pass-catchers in the transfer portal in Purdue wide receiver [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] and Baylor tight end [autotag]Jake Roberts[/autotag]. Burks was second in the Big Ten with 18 forced missed tackles on receptions in 2023. Despite serving as Baylor’s backup tight end in 2023, Roberts was still ninth in the Big 12 at the position with 143 yards after the catch. – Max Chadwick, Pro Football Focus

Anderson, Farooq, Anthony, and Burks figure to be the four players who receive the most targets, but [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] came on very strong as the 2023 season progressed.

Younger players like [autotag]J.J. Hester[/autotag], [autotag]Brenan Thompson[/autotag], [autotag]Jaquazie Pettaway[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Kearney[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Ragins[/autotag], [autotag]Ivan Carreon[/autotag] and [autotag]K.J. Daniels[/autotag] are all providing plenty of depth and were all talented recruits.

At tight end, Roberts may not even start, as [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag] got those snaps in the spring game. Four-star true freshman [autotag]Davon Mitchell[/autotag] joins [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag] and [autotag]Josh Fanuiel[/autotag] in the tight end room as well. [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag] will be able to mix and match what he wants from that position, tasked with replacing [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag].

With a talented but unproven quarterback and an overhauled offensive line, look for the weapons in the passing game to be something the offense can lean on this season.

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ESPN considers WR Deion Burks a ‘sleeper’ in the 2025 NFL Draft cycle

The Oklahoma Sooners added a big-time talent in wide receiver Deion Burks, but he might be a sleeper in the 2025 NFL Draft per ESPN.

The Oklahoma Sooners picked up one of the most dynamic players available in the transfer portal this offseason in wide receiver [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag].

He showed off his big-play ability in the Sooners [autotag]spring game[/autotag] with a pair of touchdowns and 175 receiving yards. Sure, it was an exhibition game, but the speed, agility, and quickness were on display. Taking over in the slot for Drake Stoops, who had a career year, Burks looks like he’s heading toward a career year in his own right.

And if that’s the case, it won’t be long before NFL front offices take notice for the [autotag]2025 NFL draft[/autotag]. But at the moment, he may be flying under the radar. ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller (ESPN+) dubbed Burks one of the sleepers of next year’s draft as we sit here in June.

Oklahoma will be breaking in new quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], but the early returns from the two have been promising, according to scouts. That includes Arnold connecting with Burks for two long scores — 64 and 50 yards — in Oklahoma’s spring game in April. – Matt Miller, ESPN

“If you watch the spring game, you can see the chemistry they already have,” said an AFC West area scout via ESPN. “Not to make a helmet comparison, but Burks can be a [autotag]Hollywood Brown[/autotag]-type dude there.”

If Burks can have a [autotag]Marquise Brown[/autotag] type of impact, it would go a long way toward Jackson Arnold putting together the type of season many believe he’s capable of. And if the spring game is any indication, Burks will be announcing his presence often in 2024.

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Oklahoma Sooners No. 18 in ESPN’s post-spring power rankings

ESPN released their post-spring power rankings for 2024 and the Oklahoma Sooners came in at No. 18.

Feelings are all over the place about the Oklahoma Sooners. From USA TODAY Sports’ post-spring power rankings, which have the Sooners at No. 8, to On3’s, which has them at No. 24, opinion on OU is scattered as they enter year one in the SEC.

Oklahoma is a talented team, but it also has questions that will only be answered when it faces SEC teams in the first month of the conference schedule.

In ESPN’s post-spring power rankings, the Oklahoma Sooners come in at No. 18.

Spring update: The Sooners improved by four victories in coach Brent Venables’ second season, and programs typically make an even bigger jump in Year 3. The only problem: It’s also Year 1 in the SEC, and the schedule is downright scary. The offense will have a new look after Dillon Gabriel left for Oregon, and former North Texas coach [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] took over the playcalling. Quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] had a good spring and looks like a future star. Purdue transfer [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] had five catches for 174 yards with two scores in the spring game. Transfers [autotag]Michael Tarquin[/autotag] (USC) and [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] (North Texas) were working with the No. 1 offensive line, which must replace all five starters. OU added SMU center [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] in the spring portal opening. The Sooners could be good again, but they’re going to face one of the most difficult schedules in the FBS with road games at Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU and home contests against Tennessee, Texas (in Dallas) and Alabama. – Schlabach, ESPN

The transfer additions are going to be key for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2024. From the offensive line to Deion Burks, Oklahoma is banking on those guys making an impact and helping first-year starter Jackson Arnold make a smooth transition into the lineup.

Defensively, the Sooners didn’t have as much to replace, but were able to add one of the best defensive tackles in the country via the portal in Damonic Williams. Williams in the middle of a defense that has improved year over year in Brent Venables first two seasons in Norman gives OU the chance to take another significant step toward being an elite defense.

Regardless of the level of competition the Sooners will face, Brent Venables and his staff have been building the Sooners roster to compete with the heavy hitters in the SEC. Although there will be challenges, there’s no reason the Sooners can’t contend in the SEC. They’ve got a ton of talent on both sides of the ball.

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Sooners inside USA TODAY Sports Top 10 after spring ball

The Oklahoma Sooners are on a positive trajectory and answered a lot of questions this spring. USA TODAY Sports considers OU a top 10 team.

There are varied opinions on where the Oklahoma Sooners stand heading into 2024. The Sooners are a team with a ton of talent, but how they handle their first season in the SEC is the question.

Oklahoma certainly has question marks, but they also have a track record that minimizes the questions along the offensive line and at quarterback. And that’s why it’s not necessarily surprising to see the Oklahoma Sooners inside the top 10 of USA TODAY Sports post spring top 25. Oklahoma comes in at No. 8.

The Sooners improved from six wins to 10, including a victory over Texas, in Brent Venables’ second season. QB [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] had a strong spring and the receiving corps should be outstanding with Purdue transfer [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag], a star in the spring, a major addition. The defense will continue its improvement with LB [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and DB [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] two standouts that opted to stay for another season. Whether it is ready for the grind of the SEC is the team’s biggest concern. – Erick Smith and Paul Myerburg, USA TODAY Sports

While the offense may have something to prove, the defense has shown encouraging signs that it can be one of the top defenses in the country. Bringing back Stutsman and Bowman to a defense full of young, fast, physical, and athletic players at all three levels was arguably the most important thing that happened this offseason.

[autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] solved questions along the offensive line with development and a few key transfer portal additions. The addition of [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] provides the Sooners with a legit game breaker to go along with big-play threats [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag], [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], and [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag].

Brent Venables improved from year one to year two and there’s reason to believe he’ll continue to make positive strides as a head coach. He and his staff are crushing it on the recruiting trail and show no signs of slowing down. As they continue to build the roster Venables has envisioned since his arrival to Norman, it puts Oklahoma one step closer to national title contention.

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Oklahoma is a spring transfer portal winner according to 247 Sports’ Josh Pate

Josh Pate of 247Sports thinks the Oklahoma Sooners are one of the big winners of the spring transfer portal window in 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners were very busy in the spring [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] window. It’s caught the eyes of at least one national college football analyst.

247Sports’ Josh Pate named four teams that were transfer portal winners from the spring window on his show The Late Kick with Josh Pate. Oklahoma was the very first team he mentioned.

“I think Oklahoma is one of the winning teams,” Pate said, “When they got [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] … it is symbolic that Oklahoma gets where they are.”

Pate is referring to Williams’ high-profile recruitment earlier this month. It was a battle that [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] won to get the All-Big 12 honorable mention defensive tackle to Norman.

Williams’ commitment sent a signal to Pate and the rest of the college football world. That signal is that the Sooners are going to do whatever it takes with name, image, and likeness to acquire talent, especially now that they’re in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

“Oklahoma’s not taking a backseat to anyone when it comes to aggressiveness and when it comes to exploring every possibility to fortify their roster,” Pate said.

Pate also highlighted [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], who transferred to Oklahoma from SMU. Hickman was a big get for [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] at the center position. He should start right away after starting all 14 games for the Mustangs last year and with more than 2,400 snaps to his name.

[autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag], the Purdue transfer was also mentioned, though he came in the winter portal window. Burks dominated in the [autotag]2024 Spring Game[/autotag], and could be the go-to option in the passing game this season.

Pate’s other three spring portal winners were Miami, UCF, and Oregon. The Ducks added former OU quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] in December and were busy again this spring. He also chose four losers from the spring window with LSU, who missed out on Williams when he chose the Sooners, Michigan State, Colorado, and Clemson making the list.

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Oklahoma among teams that benefited the most in this year’s transfer portal

The Oklahoma Sooners among Athlon Sports teams that benefited the most from this year’s transfer portal window.

Despite the news of Jermayne Lole’s commitment flip to the Texas Longhorns, the Oklahoma Sooners have benefited greatly from the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] this offseason.

The Sooners made significant splashes on both sides of the ball that will contribute in 2024. Along the offensive and defensive line, Oklahoma added difference makers. Even though they didn’t need a wide receiver, the Sooners found [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag], who will be a game-breaker this season.

According to Jaron Spor of Athlon Sports, the Sooners were one of five power conference teams that benefited the most from the transfer portal.

But when you get arguably the top defensive tackle, Damonic Williams and top wide receiver, Deion Burks in one class, it’s hard not to put them in the top five. Add that to the work they did on the offensive line adding guys like Febechi Nwaiwu from North Texas, Branson Hickman from SMU, Geirean Hatchett from Washington and Michael Tarquin from USC and they are in a good spot. – Spor, Athlon Sports

Oklahoma’s offensive line needed a makeover after they lost Tyler Guyton, Walter Rouse, [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag], and [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag] to the NFL and Cayden Green to the transfer portal. But Bill Bedenbaugh did a fantastic job finding talented players with experience to add competition to a young, but talented offensive line group.

The Sooners bring back a great deal of talent on both sides of the ball, and have added significant pieces to a roster that won 10 games. Though they’ll wade into new challenges in the SEC, the Sooners are good enough to make a statement in their first year in their new conference home.

And that’s a credit to the work Brent Venables and his recruiting staff have done in the transfer portal.

More: SEC Football Helmets Ranked from Worst to First.

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Deion Burks taken in the first in The Athletic’s first mock draft for 2025

In his first mock draft for the 2025 NFL draft, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler projects Deion Burks to go in the first round.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a ton of talent heading into the 2024 season. Especially at wide receiver. The Sooners are loaded with playmakers, which is part of the reason for optimism despite a first year starting quarterback and massive turnover along the offensive line. Nic Anderson is generating early 2025 NFL draft buzz, coming in at No. 5 in Pro Football Network’s wide receiver rankings. But he may not even be Oklahoma’s best wide receiver this fall.

One of the playmakers that will electrify this fall may only be in Norman one year; [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag]. Burks, who came over from Purdue this offseason, put the college football world on notice with his huge performance in the Oklahoma Sooners spring game, racking up five catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns.

Now, he won’t do that every week, but it looks like he’s got a nice rapport with Jackson Arnold, which will lead to some big days this fall. And before he ever plays a down for the Sooners, NFL draft analysts are already taking notice.

In his early 2025 NFL mock draft for The Athletic (subscription required), Dane Brugler sends Deion Burks to Detroit Lions in the first round.

Another Purdue transfer (the poor Boilermakers), Burks is a playmaking athlete with the ball in his hands. The Belleville, Mich., native returns to his home state in this scenario. – Brugler, The Athletic

Burks will get a lot of attention this fall from SEC defenses and NFL scouts alike because of his speed, athleticism, and agility. As teams look to get more explosive, Burks is a player that can take the ball to the house every time he touches it and can threaten a defense deep.

If he has the season that many expect in 2024, teams will have a hard time passing on him in the 2025 NFL draft.

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Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver poised to make a major impact in 2024 per On3

The Sooners may have gotten a steal in the transfer portal as one of their wide receivers is poised for a major impact per On3.

Heading into the offseason, the Oklahoma Sooners weren’t really in the market to find a wide receiver in the transfer portal. They had plenty of depth returning despite the loss of Drake Stoops and had a nice group of signees in the early signing period. But they weren’t past adding a player if it made sense.

That’s exactly what happened when [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] entered his name into the portal. Oklahoma won out in his recruitment, and he’s been turning heads since arriving in Norman. Some even believe he could be the next star wide receiver for the Sooners.

But that hyperbole isn’t coming only from inside the house. It’s also being felt by On3. Burks was picked as one of 10 transfers poised to make a major impact this season.

Poor Purdue, Nic Scourton wasn’t the only ex-Boilermaker to turn heads this spring, as Deion Burks looks like a future star in the SEC. The talk of the Sooners’ spring practice followed up a month’s worth of buzz with a monster Red & White Game, finishing with nearly 200 yards and two touchdowns. – Jesse Simonton On3

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‘Exciting to do that in Norman’: Deion Burks shows out at Sooners spring game

We’ve heard the offseason chatter but Deion Burks showed during the spring game that they hype might be real.

The Oklahoma Sooners’ wide receiver room might be the deepest position group on the team. It’s arguably among the top five in the country.

The question now is who will be the guy who emerges as the best of the bunch? [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] has received the most buzz. He did nothing to quiet that noise with two 50+ yard touchdowns in the spring game.

He finished with five catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns. He showed flashes of being Oklahoma’s next great wide receiver. It looks like he’ll give Oklahoma something they didn’t have last season, thanks to his elite speed.

Deion Burks spoke after the game about his 64-yard touchdown catch on the opening drive. “I’m just looking in the air and like, man this is a great ball right here I just have to go and catch it,” Burks said. “Props to the o-line for holding up and get that pass down the field. J.A. (Jackson Arnold) making a great pass down the field it was just exciting to do that in Norman.”

It won’t be the last time the Oklahoma Sooners faithful see something like that from Burks in Norman. He was a big play threat every time he touched the ball at Purdue. And with an upgraded quarterback situation and better talent at wide receiver around him, Burks will get far more favorable coverages to play against than he did with the Boilermakers.

With a strong connection with Jackson Arnold, the two will hook up for several more big plays before Burks’ time in Norman is done.

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Best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners spring game

Best photos from the Oklahoma Sooners spring game.

The Oklahoma Sooners had another fantastic showing inside the friendly confines of Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. With another strong attendance in front of around 100 recruits, the Sooners put on a show on Owen Field.

[autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] got it started with a 64-yard touchdown pass. The two connected a little bit later for another 50-plus-yard scoring strike. But it wasn’t just Arnold and Burks that flashed during the spring game.

A number of defenders like [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag], [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], and [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] got after the quarterback, helping the defense battle a talented offense throughout.

The offensive line did a lot of good things in the game, showing that they’ll be more than capable of progressing and being a winning unit for the Sooners in their first season in the SEC.

With the offensive line playing well, the quarterbacks had enough time to throw for the most part, and the running game was able to pick up big yards on several occasions.

They’re far from a finished product, but there was a lot to like. As we continue to react to the Sooners spring game, here are the best photos from the action on the field.

More: 5 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners Spring Game