Tag: Drake Stoops

Oklahoma Sooners have an emerging star in wide receiver Deion Burks

Though he’s the newcomer to the position room, Deion Burks could lead the way in receiving in 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners are loaded at wide receiver heading into the 2024 season. They return just about every receiver from a year ago while also adding one of the more dynamic players a player in the transfer portal, [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag].

Burks could be the most impactful player the Sooners added in the portal this cycle. Burks transferred in from Purdue and has displayed elite speed and polished route running in spring camp. He’s the player many think will take over in the slot, a position vacated by [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag], who had a career year in 2023.

Deion Burks shared how he found his role this offseason. “It has been a nice process,” Burks said. “Coming in, I knew I pretty much wanted to play the slot position. Coach (Emmett) Jones molded me into that spot. Just learning that and also learning the one and the four as well. I feel like I’ve adjusted well to it. I feel like I’m learning the defense and picking up on that quickly so I just feel like it’s going to be a great thing coming.”

While Stoops was great a season ago, Burks brings a different level of speed and athleticism to the slot. Stoops found a way to get open with his route-running ability, but what Burks brings to the table will make him even harder to cover. And like Stoops did in 2023, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Oklahoma’s slot wide receiver lead the Sooners in receiving again in 2024.

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Sooners wide receiver Jalil Farooq embracing leadership role

“I’m just working on my craft. I’m perfecting my craft first and then making sure everyone around me is doing the same. Just getting that extra work in,” Jalil Farooq said of taking on a new leadership role for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Last year, [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] was the heart and soul of not just the wide receiver room but the offense as well. Now that Stoops is gone, someone has to step into the void and become a leader for a talented position group.

[autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] is one of the older guys on the team. He’s been a two-year starter at Oklahoma and been productive along the way. He spoke to reporters about embracing a leadership role on the team.

“Just continue to be more of a vocal leader,” Farooq said. “I’m just working on my craft. I’m perfecting my craft first and then making sure everyone around me is doing the same. Just getting that extra work in. Making sure my group is working and continuing to get better. Get the jugs in, extra work, things like that. Being the first ones in and last ones out. Just getting better, day by day.”

Farooq had a not so memorable bowl game but he was a good receiver for Oklahoma a season ago. He had a big-time performance in the Red River Rivalry win, coming up with acrobatic catches and big plays to help the Sooners get the victory over Texas.

He then decided to return to Oklahoma which in the transfer portal era was huge. The more experience and playmakers available, the better. We saw how quickly things can change for a position group when Andrel Anthony was lost for the season due to injury.

The wide receiver group is key to Oklahoma’s success in 2024. With a first-year starter at quarterback and big turnover on the offensive line, the Sooners will rely heavily on their talented group of pass catchers. They are arguably the most talented and deepest on the team. Now, it’s all about continuing to work so they can reach their full potential.

More: Oklahoma’s wide receiver group has a ton of depth

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‘I think we’ve got great personnel’: Jackson Arnold excited about his new weapons

While the Sooners lost some guys at the skill positions from last year, they’ve also added some guys that could have big years for Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Sooners are going to have to replace some weapons they lost from a season ago. Most notably their leading receiver, [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag].

They also lost a veteran presence in the locker room with the departure of tight end [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag].

The Sooners brought in some very talented players that they are very high on, like [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Kearney[/autotag], [autotag]Ivan Carreon[/autotag], [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag] and [autotag]Davon Mitchell[/autotag].

Jackson Arnold spoke about his new weapons for this season when he met with the media after Monday’s practice.

“I think we’ve got great personnel so far,” Arnold said. “Our receiver room is stacked, obviously. Running back room is really good. The (offensive) line group has been great, too. Same as the tight end group. The ball has been spread around a lot this spring. I’m excited for the rest of the spring, the spring game, and the season as a whole.”

Stoops is going to be a big piece to replace, but people think Burks has the potential to be taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s expected to take the slot position that Stoops occupied. Another player that’s received rave reviews is Bauer Sharp.

Last year, the Sooners had no depth at tight end, and that put a lot of pressure on Stogner to do it all. This year, the Sooners have three to four guys that could make an impact assuming [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag] comes back from injury.

Sharp has already made himself known to fans thanks to the OU Football social media account. In one of their practices, Arnold climbed the pocket and found Sharp for a touchdown.

The hope is that’s the first of many this season for Arnold and the tight ends.

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‘I think I’ll be at peace’: Drake Stoops ready for what will come on Draft Day

OU Pro Day is over and Drake Stoops is just hoping for an opportunity come Draft Day.

Earlier this week the Oklahoma Sooners hosted their [autotag]NFL Pro Day[/autotag]. Several Sooners participated in the festivities in front of a number of NFL scouts..

But no one got more attention than [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag]. Stoops put together a pretty good day. He had an 8-foot-11 broad jump, 30-inch vertical, 4.67 40-yard dash, 4.25 20-yard shuttle and his best category was the three-cone drill where he ran a 7.01. That would have tied for fifth at the combine.

Stoops talked about his Pro Day and what he’s hoping comes next. “I’ll be ready mentally,” Stoops said. “I’ll be ready physically. I’ll take a day off after today and then get back to work with Schmitty (Jerry Schmidt). Make sure I’m in good shape when an opportunity arises. Leading up to the draft, I think I’ll be at peace. Whatever happens, happens. God has a plan. It’s not really up to me whether that’s drafted or undrafted, I think an opportunity will arise and that’s all that matters.”

Stoops went on to say all he needs is an opportunity and that’s how I feel as well. Stoops came in as a walk-on and many didn’t think much would come from it. Some even thought he only got the offer because of his dad.

But he quickly proved that wrong and became one of the best receivers in the conference in 2023. He became a fan favorite and someone Oklahoma fans will be following wherever his playing career takes him..

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‘I want to apply that to mine’: Deion Burks taking notes from a former Sooner great

Newcomer Deion Burks already eyeing a former Sooner great’s role in this offense.

The Oklahoma Sooners are bringing back one of the better and deeper wide receiver units in the country. They added to that by getting one of the more coveted wide receiver transfers in the portal, [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag].

Burks had 629 yards and seven touchdowns last season at Purdue. With all of the experience, they now have to figure out how each player fits. For Burks, he’s got his eye on the role that was occupied by [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] for the last few years.

“First week I came up here, I saw Drake working out,” Burks said. “I was like, ‘Man how do you like this spot?’ He was like, ‘Man, you are going to love it, love how the offense is run.’ Just knowing Drake, everybody knows, he really wasn’t the fastest receiver, but he was always getting open, and as a receiver, you want to see how a dude with his speed always gets open. He was just a student of the game. He knew where to be at the right time. He knew how to manipulate different ways to get the ball. Just taking that from his game and stuff like that. I want to apply that to mine as well.”

One thing Sooner fans know is he’s not a bad person to learn from. If Burks is able to master a lot of those things that made Stoops great and combine that with his speed, he could be in for a special year in the Crimson and Cream.

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Sooners QB-WR duo one of CBS Sports best ahead of 2024

Jackson Arnold, Deion Burks among CBS Sports 10 best QB-WR duos ahead of 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners get set for spring ball with one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the country. Despite the loss of 2023’s leading receiver [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag], wide receiver is absolutely stacked heading into 2024.

[autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] return after finishing second and third in receiving in 2023. Jayden Gibson is back as well after having a breakout season in a rotational role. Of Gibson, Brent Venables said on Wednesday, he’s “easily at his best. I don’t think he lost a competition the entire winter.”

[autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag], who led the Sooners in receiving prior to his season-ending injury against Texas, will also be back. His timeline for a return is still up in the air, but Venables noted he’s doing well in his rehabilitation.

OU also brings back speedsters [autotag]Brenan Thompson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag] and adds a nice group of 2024 signees to the position.

And then there’s [autotag]Deion Burk[/autotag]s, a player many expect to start in the slot for the Sooners.

Oklahoma’s wide receiver group might be the deepest on the roster, giving first-year starter [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] a dynamic group of playmakers. Arnold, combined with any one of them, could be one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the country. CBS Sports believes Arnold and Burks are one of the ten best quarterback-wide receiver duos in college football ahead of the 2024 season.

This one features a good bit of projection as Arnold has mostly shown us one disjointed bowl start and Burks arrives as a transfer from Purdue. Burks was named second team All-Big Ten by the coaches after a strong 2023 showing, and Arnold’s ceiling combined with Oklahoma’s offense suggests these two will be quite productive in 2024… The former five-star prospect showed the arm talent and mobility that made him such a coveted recruit, and if maturity and development has him tightening up on the mistakes, he’ll be leading one of the top passing attacks in the SEC. Burks plays a key role in that prediction; the explosive wideout should be a nice compliment to Nic Anderson and Andrel Anthony with his speed and ability to stretch the field. – Chip Patterson, CBS Sports

For Purdue in 2023, Burks had 47 receptions for 629 yards and seven touchdowns. 29 of his 47 receptions went for a first down. He was fifth in the Big Ten in targets with 95 and fourth in touchdown receptions. With improved quarterback play coming to Oklahoma, his efficiency should improve a ton.

Burks has the speed and after the catch ability to have a dynamic season. Working with [autotag]Emmett Jones[/autotag], who helped Anderson and Gibson have their breakout years and Stoops and Farooq have career seasons for the Sooners, there’s no telling what Burks could do in his first season in Norman.

You could have easily gone with Arnold and 2024’s breakout player, Nic Anderson. Anderson had 38 catches for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns and led the nation in yards per reception.

Regardless of who will lead the Sooners at the position in 2024, Emmett Jones has a stacked group of playmakers that will make life difficult on SEC coverage packages in 2024.

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Oklahoma Sooners enter spring with tons of depth at wide receiver

Emmett Jones and the Oklahoma Sooners have assembled an incredibly talented group of players at wide receiver for 2024.

In each of the last two seasons, the Oklahoma Sooners have lost their leading receiver.

[autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], who led the team in 2022, earned a Pro Bowl selection with the Denver Broncos in his rookie season in 2023. [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] is hoping to hear his name called in the 2024 NFL draft after his breakout season in 2023.

And despite the turnover, the Sooners are still stacked at wide receiver.

[autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] is back after his breakout season in 2023. Anderson caught 38 balls for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns. He led the nation in yards per reception among qualified wide receivers. [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], who also experienced a breakout year in a rotational role also returns looking to build off of a season in which he had 14 receptions for 375 yards and five touchdowns. Swiss Army knife wide receiver [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] returns to give the Sooners a veteran in the room. He had a solid year that was marred by ball insecurity that reared its head in the Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona. Farooq was second on the team in receptions and third in receiving yards last season.

[autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] returns after suffering an ACL tear in the Red River Rivalry win over Texas. Prior to his injury, Anthony was leading the Sooners in receiving, winning at every level of the passing game.

Also back are speedsters [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag]. Though they saw limited playing time, their speed put defenses on notice last year. Thompson provided big play ability every time he stepped on the field and will look to earn a bigger role this offseason. Pettaway was getting his feet wet as a true freshman but could see an increased workload on offense and special teams.

And if that was the depth chart at wide receiver heading into 2024, you’d feel great about what Jackson Arnold will be throwing to. And yet, the talent that Emmett Jones has assembled at wide receiver looks like the heroes arriving at the culmination of Avengers: End Game for the battle with Thanos.

Jones also brought in talented playmaker [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] from Purdue. Burks could be a candidate to start for the Sooners in the slot, taking over for Stoops in 2024. And if that weren’t enough, the Sooners added a really good freshman class with [autotag]Zion Kearney[/autotag], [autotag]Ivan Carreon[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Ragins[/autotag], and [autotag]K.J. Daniels[/autotag].

To say the Sooners are talent-rich at wide receiver heading into 2024 would be an understatement. From top to bottom, it’s easily the deepest position group on the roster. And with Jackson Arnold taking over at quarterback and transition along the offensive line, a lot will be expected of Emmett Jones’ wide receiver crew to provide big plays for the Sooners in 2024.

And with the talent that Jones and the Sooners have assembled, they’re about to have a huge season in their first in the SEC.

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5 positions where the Oklahoma Sooners are better than they were a year ago

Every year there is roster turnover, but where are the Sooners better? Here are five positions Oklahoma’s better than they were a year ago.

Every offseason teams around college football have to deal with a significant amount of turnover to their roster. That’s been the case for the Sooners each season of the Brent Venables era.

No position group was hit harder than the offensive line. They lost the five guys that were starters for the majority of the season. Though they’ve been able to retool the lineup with transfer portal additions, it will be months before we know if those additions will work out.

Elsewhere, however, the Sooners look to be in really good shape, especially when you compare it to how several positions looked this time last year.

Here are five position groups that look better compared to where they were a year ago.

Nic Anderson named a freshman All-American by FWAA

The accolades keep on coming as Nic Anderson was named a freshman All-American by FWAA.

We are nearly a month since the 2023 college football season for the Oklahoma Sooners came to a close. Still, the accolades keep on coming for the Sooners.

This time, it’s for wide receiver [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag]. Anderson was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team, the FWAA announced Tuesday. Anderson joins [autotag]Marvin Mims Jr.[/autotag] as the only Sooners to be recognized by the FWAA as freshman All-Americans.

Anderson finished the year with 798 yards and 10 touchdowns on 38 receptions. His 10 touchdowns were a school freshman record, and his 798 receiving yards are the second most ever by an OU freshman, falling nine yards short of [autotag]CeeDee Lamb[/autotag]’s record.

He ranked fifth nationally with his 21.0 yards per reception and he registered at least 100 receiving yards three times on the year and 90 or more receiving yards in five games.

Anderson was a touchdown machine. He scored multiple touchdowns twice this season. His coming out party was when he snagged three touchdowns on three receptions with a season-high 120 yards at [autotag]Tulsa[/autotag].

He also scored twice while gaining 105 yards on five catches against [autotag]UCF[/autotag]. His most memorable play was when he caught the game-winning touchdown against the Texas Longhorns with 15 seconds remaining.

He had 119 yards on four catches against [autotag]West Virginia[/autotag]. He made his record-setting 10th touchdown on a great catch in the [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag] against [autotag]Arizona[/autotag] on a great throw by [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag].

Anderson was also named a Freshman All-American by The Athletic and was a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.

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How did USA TODAY Sports grade the Sooners 2023 season?

The letter grade for the Oklahoma Sooners’ 2023 campaign is in. How did they grade out in Year 2 under Brent Venables?

The 2023 campaign was a year of redemption for the Oklahoma Sooners. After a 6-7 season in 2022, the Sooners bounced back with a 10-3 season in 2023.

The Sooners got a massive win over their arch rival the Texas Longhorns but lost two games they shouldn’t have lost to the Kansas Jayhawks and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. You can argue the Arizona Wildcats as well but it was a bowl game with a bunch of new starters in a game that to me, doesn’t matter anyway.

But overall this year was a year fans wanted to see improvement and they got that on both sides of the ball. So, each year USA TODAY Sports gives each team a letter grade for their season. Now, keep in mind the grades are on a relative curve based on preseason expectations weighed against in-season performance, with attention to special circumstances such as injuries or marquee wins.

There were a lot of people who didn’t think they hired the right coach and they were going to turn into the Nebraska Cornhuskers. I mean this was a team that had one preseason All-Big 12 player on the team and he was selected to the second team. Instead, they finished with two who made All-American teams and six on the All-Big 12 team.
We knew coming in the Sooners needed to win 9 or 10 games in 2023. They did that. So, to me, I think they deserved at least an A- for that but with the teams they lost to I don’t have too big of a gripe with a B+ either.

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