Tag: Jalil Farooq

Emmett Jones ability to recruit and develop praised by Brent Venables

Emmett Jones ability to recruit and develop praised by Head Coach Brent Venables.

The hiring of [autotag]Emmett Jones[/autotag] gave the Oklahoma Sooners an almost immediate boost on the recruiting trail. It didn’t take long for recruiting projections to begin favoring the Oklahoma Sooners at wide receiver. That’s in no small part due to Jones’ connections in the state of Texas and his ability to develop players.

That’s what head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] saw in him when he made the hire.

“I’ve known coach Jones several years,” Venables said last week. “Incredibly well respected in the state of Texas. Just as a leader of men, recruited his schools and got the chance to know him several years ago and watch and follow his growth and development, his path.”

Jones’ success as the head football coach at South Oak Cliff High School in Dallas meant he hosted coaches from across the college football landscape. That’s how Brent Venables became acquainted with the Sooners’ new wide receivers coach.

“And I’ve always had great admiration and respect for him as a man and his ability to develop players, how his players play; that matters to me,” Venables continued.”

Most recently, that development helped the Texas Tech Red Raiders have success in the passing game despite the loss of Erik Ezukanma, who led Tech in receiving the year prior.

His ability to develop and the relationships he has in the state of Texas, particularly in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, will be great assets for the Oklahoma Sooners on the recruiting trail.

“Certainly, he also has great ties to the state of Texas,” Venables said. “And then he values a lot of the same things that I do in regards to coaching and developing people, as a family man. He recognizes the excellence again, that Oklahoma represents and wanted an opportunity to be a part of, you know, this great program.”

The Oklahoma Sooners lost a couple of significant pieces to their receiving corps after the 2022 season. [autotag]Theo Wease[/autotag] transferred to Missouri and [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] declared for the NFL draft. That’s a lot of experience and production out the door.

Emmett Jones’ job over the next six months is to get the wide receiver group ready to supplement the production lost with the departure of two veteran wide receivers. [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] is expected to take on a larger role in the offense this year, but the question is who will start opposite him in two wide receiver sets.

But Venables believes Jones is up to the task.

“And so, got great, great appreciation and respect for coach Jones. (He’s) gonna give our receivers exactly what they need in regards to the development, relational, and the scheme, the fundamental development.”

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‘We’re just a lot further along’: Brent Venables impressed by his Sooners’ football acumen

Addressing the media on Thursday, Brent Venables likes where the Oklahoma Sooners are at this point in the 2023 offseason.

As the 2022 season inched along, it was evident that the Oklahoma Sooners didn’t have enough depth or talent, on the defensive side in particular, to achieve what they wanted in 2022. The Sooners didn’t sit back in the transfer portal.

Brent Venables and his staff attacked the transfer portal and closed on their No. 4 recruiting class to improve the depth and talent for 2023. Although Oklahoma doesn’t rank well in returning production, the Sooners are banking on their transfer portal and freshmen recruiting class making an impact this season.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] spoke about the improved depth.

“So we’re just a lot further along,” Venables shared with the media. “Strength, speed. I think this is a review compared to mid-years. I think that we got more depth than what we had a year ago, I think more impact players than we had a year ago.”

The Sooners brought in one of the top transfer classes in the country, led by [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag] and [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag]. They were highly productive players in 2022. McCullough was a true-freshman All-American for the Indiana Hoosiers, while Bothroyd put together a couple of seasons with Wake Forest.

It’s early in the 2023 offseason, but Venables has been impressed with what this group has shown so far in their time in Norman.

“And then, again, we’re further along, Venables continued. “Some of it because I think we’ve recruited a really good class of football players. Guys that have a very strong football acumen. That’s going to lend to a quicker transition if you will, and a group of guys that are hungry.”

Additionally, the Sooners that are returning have had a year in Brent Venables’ defensive system and Jeff Lebby’s offense. With time to review what went well and what didn’t in the 2022 season, those players have a better understanding of what’s expected this offseason in preparation for 2023.

Guys like [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], and [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] were first time starters for the Sooners. Each of them had some big moments as sophomores and are expected to make an even bigger impact in 2023.

The proof will come during the 2023 season, but there’s reason to be optimistic that Oklahoma will rebound from their first losing season since 1998.

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ESPN’s David Hale projects the Sooners to have the best comeback in 2023

In ESPN’s latest college football roundtable, David Hale chose the Sooners to have the best comeback in 2023.

There’s a lot to like about what Brent Venables is building in Norman. The Oklahoma Sooners may not have had the season they would have liked in 2022, but there’s a lot of optimism surrounding the Sooners this offseason.

They’re bringing back a lot of the pieces that played significant roles in 2022. Though they lost several starters to the NFL, they’ve made significant transfer additions to mitigate those losses and bolster a defense that struggled for much of the Big 12 schedule.

And it’s those transfer portal additions that has ESPN’s David Hale optimistic that Oklahoma could have the best comeback (ESPN+) in 2023.

There were myriad reasons for Oklahoma’s down 2022 campaign, but Brent Venables isn’t interested in excuses. His focus is entirely on improvement, and there’s reason to believe 2023 will offer quite a bit of it for the Sooners. The transfer portal gutted last year’s roster, but Oklahoma has added some solid players this season, including two potential star edge rushers in Rondell Bothroyd and Dasan McCullough. Add in a terrific recruiting class and the return of QB Dillon Gabriel, and Venables has much more to work with this time around. Those edge rushers are key. Venables loves to dictate the action at the line of scrimmage, something he did better than any coach in the country at Clemson. If Oklahoma’s pass rush takes a big leap and the Sooners get a little better turnover luck — they saw the 10th-biggest year-over-year decline in points off turnover margin in 2022 — they should again be contending for the Big 12 title and a possible playoff berth. – Hale, ESPN

The transfer class, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, will make a huge difference for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2023. They needed an infusion of talent to give them more depth, and depth they have. Their pass rush should be better with the additions of [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag], and [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag]. They’ll join a defensive front that was good at times and went cold other times. But Ethan Downs finished the season on a high note for the Sooners. After his first year as a starter

While the portal additions on offense will help replace the offensive line departures of [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag] and [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag], Oklahoma will benefit from quarterback continuity and a strong running game.

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] now has a season of Power Five under his belt. He was good in 2022 and has a chance to be better in 2023 despite the losses of [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] and [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag]. [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] emerged as a reliable and versatile option in Jeff Lebby’s offense. They also brought back [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag], which provides another reliable option for the passing game.

They’re bringing back a ton of talent, but just as important is that the Big 12 looks incredibly wide open in 2023. Texas may be the frontrunner, but the Sooners will be right there with teams like Kansas State and Texas Tech as contenders for the conference title.

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Oklahoma landed one of USA TODAY Sports best transfer classes

USA TODAY Sports Paul Myerburg identified Oklahoma’s transfer classes as one of the best in the country this offseason.

The Oklahoma Sooners made a concerted effort to add talent and experience on both sides of the football in the 2023 transfer portal. The Sooners lost a lot of talent to the NFL in [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Murray[/autotag], [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], and [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag]. [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag] is headed to Houston, so the Sooners have a lot of vacated snaps to fill.

According to USA TODAY’s Paul Myerburg, the Oklahoma Sooners brought in one of the best transfer portal classes in the country this cycle. [autotag]Dasasn McCullough[/autotag] was named as the Sooners’ best transfer addition.

This is another solid transfer class for [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], this time joining one of the top-ranked traditional recruiting classes in the FBS. Stanford transfer [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] pencils into one of the open spots at left or right tackle after spending four season as the Cardinal’s starter on the blind side. After one season at South Carolina, tight end [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag] has rejoined the program and figures to be the Sooners’ top option at the position. Former Michigan wide receiver [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] had moments of brilliance with the Wolverines and will have the chance to play a major role as OU tries to replace roughly two-thirds of last year’s receiving yardage. Lastly, (Dasan) McCullough was one of the top freshmen defenders in the Power Five in 2022. – Myerburg, USA TODAY Sports

The Sooners added several impact players on both sides of the ball. Including McCullough, the Sooners landed several defensive front players that can effect opposing passing games and help solidify their run defense. McCullough is rumored to be slotted in at Cheetah for the Sooners, but Oklahoma will utilize his pass rush ability in their blitz packages.

[autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag] comes to Oklahoma with 13 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss over the last two seasons at Wake Forest. [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag] had a productive first two years in Stillwater before being limited by injuries. Oklahoma also added [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag] and [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag] to help bolster the interior. Lacey comes from Notre Dame, and Sears was being pursued by Tennessee and Penn State before choosing Oklahoma.

Safety [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag] rounds out the defensive additions for the Sooners. He brings a lot of experience and big-hitting ability that can add some extra physicality to the Sooners’ defense.

On offense, Oklahoma made important additions along the offensive line with Rouse and guard [autotag]Caleb Shaffer[/autotag]. Both players could slide into the starting lineup and bring a ton of experience to the offensive line room. Both were four-year starters at their previous stops and join an experienced group that brings back [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag] and [autotag]McKade Mettauer[/autotag] along the offensive front as well. [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag] projects to start at right tackle after playing the swing tackle role for Oklahoma in 2022.

[autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] adds another talented wide receiver to their wide receiver competition opposite [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag]. Anthony has some deep-threat ability that will give him the opportunity to be an option to replace Marvin Mims.

Then there’s [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag]. The returning Oklahoma Sooners tight end will have an opportunity for a [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag]-type breakout season in 2023. Though the Sooners are a little deeper now that [autotag]Jason Llewellyn[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaden Helms[/autotag] are in their second years in Norman, Stogner will get a vast majority of the opportunities this season.

Time will tell just how impactful this transfer portal class will be, but on paper, the Sooners landed a strong group of players that will be key to the Sooners 2023 season.

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After strong sophomore season, Sooners WR Jalil Farooq headed for huge 2023

After a strong performance in 2022 where he was third on the team in total yards, Sooners WR Jalil Farooq is set to have a huge season in 2023.

A freshman during the 2021 season, Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] didn’t see much playing time. That was until the Alamo Bowl after [autotag]Mario Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Jadon Haselwood[/autotag] departed via the transfer portal, and [autotag]Michael Woods[/autotag] declared for the 2022 NFL draft.

That left [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag], and Farooq, then a true freshman for the Sooners, to lead the way for Oklahoma in their matchup against the Oregon Ducks.

Mims and Stoops did what they do, each recording a touchdown reception from then-quarterback [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag]. But it was Farooq’s performance that provided a glimpse of the future at wide receiver.

In his first extended action in the Alamo Bowl, Farooq caught three passes for 64 yards in the win over the Ducks. He had 48 yards after the catch, and each of his three receptions went for a first down.

That led to an opportunity for him to earn a feature role with the Sooners in 2022. And he didn’t disappoint.

Operating on the outside, opposite Marvin Mims, Farooq became the do-it-all option for the Sooners in 2022. He had 37 receptions for 466 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran the ball 12 times for 121 yards, averaging 10.1 yards per carry on the season.

Only Eric Gray and Marvin Mims had more total yards than Farooq’s 606 in 2022. Farooq was also the Sooners’ best kick returner, averaging 22.9 yards per return on 12 opportunities for 275 yards.

He was a threat in the run game on reverses and helped the Sooners in the intermediate part of the field. He ran hard and with purpose with the ball in his hands and is a perfect fit in Jeff Lebby’s offense. An offense that wants to run a lot of wide receiver and bubble screens and jet sweep action.

Jalil Farooq’s after-the-catch ability will make him a huge threat in Oklahoma’s offense in 2023. With Marvin Mims gone and doubt as to who will replace him, Farooq should see a huge uptick in touches both as a receiver and a runner. With more of a focus on getting the ball in his hands, Farooq will push for 1,000 total yards next year in Lebby’s fast-paced offense.

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Oklahoma Sooners playing numbers game to replace WR Marvin Mims

While the Oklahoma Sooners have a hole at wide receiver, they have several promising players to work with to replace Marvin Mims.

The Oklahoma Sooners lost several players to the NFL after the 2022 season. Perhaps none were a bigger loss than wide receiver [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag].

Mims, who emerged as a true freshman, led the Oklahoma Sooners in receiving yards each of his three seasons in Norman. His penchant for the big play was a huge part of Oklahoma’s offensive success over the last three seasons.

New wide receivers coach [autotag]Emmett Jones[/autotag] and offensive coordinator [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] have a tall task ahead of them to find someone to replace Mims in the starting lineup.

[autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] and [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] are back and are likely two of Oklahoma’s starting wide receivers in three receiver sets. Stoops is a steady present out of the slot and had his most productive season in 2022. Farooq had a strong season in his first year as a starter and will look to build on it in 2023.

But what will Oklahoma do on the outside opposite Farooq? There’s not a clear answer as the Sooners begin their offseason workouts. As opposed to fill in the blank, Oklahoma will be answering a multiple choice or select all that apply test for outside wide receiver two.

The Sooners have a host of guys that will compete for snaps on the wide receiver depth chart. Returning are [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] and [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], two members of the 2022 signing class that have a ton of potential but didn’t see many opportunities last season for varying reasons.

Then there are the transfer additions Oklahoma made late last spring. [autotag]J.J. Hester[/autotag] and [autotag]L.V. Bunkely-Shelton[/autotag] will get a full offseason of work in Jeff Lebby’s offense. They have experience from their original schools that could help the Sooners mitigate the loss of Marvin Mims and, to a lesser extent, [autotag]Theo Wease[/autotag]. Oklahoma added [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] in the portal this offseason. He’s a big-play threat similar to Hester. Those three transfer additions don’t bring elite production, but they’ve done some things at the collegiate level that Jones and Lebby can develop.

The Sooners added a couple more wide receivers in this signing class that have a chance to have an early impact. [autotag]Keyon Brown[/autotag] may be ready to go from a technical perspective, while [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag]’s speed is going to be a game-changer for this offense. Pettaway won’t be in Norman till the summertime, but it won’t take long for the coaching staff to see the difference his speed makes.

The Oklahoma Sooners may not know who slides into the starting lineup at this point. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There will be quite the competition at wide receiver to see who emerges from a deep group of players with promise.

As the offseason churns along, this will be one of the position battles to watch for 2023.

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Oklahoma Sooners add Michigan transfer wide receiver Andrel Anthony Jr.

Looking to fortify their wide receiver corp, the Oklahoma Sooners received a commitment from Michigan transfer WR Andrel Anthony.

After making splashes on the defensive side of the ball in the transfer portal, the Oklahoma Sooners added Michigan transfer wide receiver Andrel Anthony.

Anthony comes to the Sooners with two years of eligibility and will join the wide receiver competition to replace [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] on the outside.

The former Michigan wide receiver played more than 500 snaps for the Wolverines over two seasons and recorded 19 receptions for 328 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 17.3 yards per reception, 6.4 yards after the catch per reception, a 17.9 depth of target and a 44.4% contested catch win rate.

The former three-star player was the No. 69 wide receiver in the class of 2021. He had a strong freshman campaign that included three touchdowns but saw limited opportunities in Michigan’s passing game.

Coming to Norman, Anthony’s size will provide another target in the middle of the field for Dillon Gabriel. Twelve of Anthony’s 19 receptions went for first downs, and if he can bring that same level of first down efficiency to the Sooners, it would help them improve on third down as well.

Anthony was originally from East Lansing, and though Michigan State made a big push for him as a recruit, he ultimately spurned the Spartans for the Wolverines. Then, in his first game against MSU, he scored two touchdowns, including a 90-plus yard catch-and-run, elevating his prospects in short order. – Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire

Anthony joins [autotag]LV Bunkley-Shelton[/autotag], [autotag]J.J. Hester[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], and [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] as wide receivers vying for snaps opposite [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag]. [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] likely remains your slot wide receiver, leaving a spot on the outside for an intriguing group of players.

While the Sooners will have a hard time replacing Marvin Mims’ downfield ability, they have options for new wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Emmett Jones to work with to see who will step up and take the reigns on the outside.

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Final thoughts on the Oklahoma Sooners 2022 season

The final ‘Final Thoughts’ of the 2022 football season for the Oklahoma Sooners, taking a look back at their first season under Brent Venables.

The Oklahoma Sooners 2022 season didn’t go the way many observers would have guessed. Finishing with a losing record for the first time since 1998 wasn’t in the cards for many. But it’s where they ended up.

Still, they feel like a team that was, dare I say, (shudders) “close.”

They lost four of their last five games, each coming by a field goal. They were 0-5 in games decided by a touchdown or less. That doesn’t mean they were going to be a national title contender or even a Big 12 contender, but they were literally closer to winning eight or nine games, even if they break even in those one-score losses.

There’s a lot of work to do in Norman to improve upon their 2022 season, but there were also some positive things we learned from Brent Venables’ first year with the Oklahoma Sooners.

So here are some final thoughts on the Oklahoma Sooners 2022 season.

How does Oklahoma replace lost receiving production from 2022?

Oklahoma is losing 66 percent of its receiving production heading into 2023. Who helps fill that void for the Sooners?

Oklahoma’s roster construction for team 129 isn’t finished yet, and that’s fine. It’s only January. However, as Oklahoma looks to retool its roster and improve next season, it’ll have to do it without one of its best players. Marvin Mims announced his decision to forego one more year of eligibility and declared for the 2023 NFL draft.

It’s hard to blame him as he’s led the Sooners in receiving every year of his collegiate career and can’t prove too much else to draft pundits and scouts. His absence gives Oklahoma another problem that this offensive staff will have to figure out in the months ahead of the 2023 season opener. 

With Mims out of the door, the Sooners have lost 66% of their receiving yards from this 2022 season. Mims, [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag], [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], and Theo Wease are gone. Jalil Farooq and Drake Stoops are Oklahoma’s top two options as things stand.

Farooq totaled 466 receiving yards, while Stoops had 393 yards in 2022. They will need better performances from both, plus help from someone new to make up the 2,000 yards they’ve lost this winter. Who will help fill the void and make up the difference? 

Expect Jalil Farooq to get a bump in targets and touches in 2023.

The third year Sooner was solid in 2022. He didn’t have a 100-yard game and finished fourth in receptions,  but only Marvin Mims had more games of four receptions or more this season than Farooq. Toss in his 15 carries for 140 yards, and only Eric Gray and Mims had more yards from scrimmage than Farooq. Farooq did have 100 total yards against Iowa State when he caught 4 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown and ran the ball twice for 26 yards.

He’s a dynamic player with the ball in his hands and can win at every level of the defense.

2022 freshmen Gavin Freeman,  Nic Anderson, and Jaylen Gibson could also have an impact in 2023.

Freeman was on the field for 77 snaps according to Pro Football Focus. He finished with 7 receptions for 71 yards, along with three carries for 46 yards and a touchdown. His speed and big-play ability were an asset for the Sooners and another offseason in Norman should help him get some more opportunities. Freeman is the most likely candidate to see a bump up based on his play in 2022. 

Gibson had a big-time TD in the spring game but didn’t see many opportunities in the passing game in 2022. He played 96 snaps but only saw five targets. He turned that into one reception for 12 yards. More weight room progress and a big off-season could help give him a shot to see more playing time and potentially replace Marvin Mims.

Nic Anderson played sparingly and didn’t see a target in the passing game. His freshman season was limited due to offseason injuries. 

LV Bunkley-Shelton and JJ Hester both transferred in before the season last year. Later arrivals, they struggled to crack the rotation during the 2022 season. Shelton saw the field a bit more at the end of the season and even made a catch in the Cheez-It Bowl. Shelton could fit best in the slot, while Hester is an outside guy.

Both played Power Five football before coming to OU. That experience and a full offseason in the program could help them earn more opportunities in 2023. That time in the program should equip them to have a better understanding of the offense.

Oklahoma’s tight-end room will need to grow in a big way in 2023. Austin Stogner comes in to replace Brayden Willis as the leader in the room and the starting tight end. But the Sooners used a lot of 12 personnel, with one running back, two wide receivers, and two tight ends. So, Oklahoma will need Kaden Helms and Jason Llewelyn to take a significant step forward to improve the tight end depth in 2023.

The remaining possibilities come from players not on campus yet. A freshman that looks likely to break out, four-star wide receiver Jaquaize Pettaway. He’s a blur and instantly one of the fastest on the team upon his arrival. You can’t coach that type of speed. It’ll be hard to envision a world where Lebby doesn’t at least have him out there catching screens, running jet sweeps, and letting him run go and backside post routes.

Altogether this is what Oklahoma has in its receiving cupboard for 2023. Increased opportunities for Jalil Farooq and Drake Stoops seem inevitable. In fact, if they don’t take steps forward, none of this discussion matters. They’ll need assistance from their 2023 recruiting class, a transfer, or a surprise from their depth chart to make up the remainder of the receiving production lost this offseason.

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Sooners offer Michigan transfer WR Andrew Anthony Jr.

In pursuit of college-ready receiver help, Oklahoma offers Andrel Anthony Jr., a Michigan transfer with two years of eligibility.

Oklahoma continues its pursuit of wide receivers out of the transfer portal continues. One of their latest offers is to Andrel Anthony Jr., a transfer receiver from the University of Michigan.

Anthony, a former three-star receiver out of high school, just completed his sophomore season at Michigan. After the Wolverines’ loss to TCU in the College Football Playoff, he entered the portal.

In two years at Michigan, he totaled 19 catches for 328 yards and four touchdowns across 26 games. He was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree in 2022.

 

There’s a lot to like about Anthony, who is 6-foot-2 and can still add a bit more mass to his frame. With two years of eligibility remaining, he could factor into the wide receiver rotation nicely.

Oklahoma isn’t alone in its pursuit. The Michigan transfer has received offers from Pittsburgh, Auburn, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Miami, and South Carolina. He’s got a plethora of options on the table.

If [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] does declare for the 2023 NFL draft, it creates a significant hole at wide receiver opposite [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag]. That could make the Sooners an attractive landing spot. Couple that with the return of Dillon Gabriel for one more year, and the Sooners can position themselves to be significant players in the pursuit of transfer wide receivers.

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