Tag: Jayden Gibson

Where did Oklahoma land in ESPN’s re-rank of the 2022 recruiting classes?

Where did Oklahoma’s 2022 recruiting class land in ESPN’s re-rank of the cycle?

The Oklahoma Sooners went through quite a transition to start the 2022 offseason. Lincoln Riley abruptly left for USC, and the [autotag]2022 recruiting class[/autotag] fell apart, dropping as low as 28 in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings.

But after OU hired Brent Venables, the new head coach, and his staff rebuilt the class, helping it land at No. 8 in the team recruiting rankings for the cycle.

ESPN re-ranked the top 25 recruiting classes from 2022 three years in, and Oklahoma missed the cut.

It’s a group that’s developed some good players but has faced a lot of adversity.

Defensive stars [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag], [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag], Kip Lewis, and Gracen Halton were key additions to the class. Thomas and Halton flipped to Oklahoma after Venables’ arrival. Jennings stayed locked in despite the coaching change. All four of those were instrumental in Oklahoma’s defensive success in 2024.

Injuries have limited four-star prospects Gentry Williams, Gavin Sawchuk, Jovantae Barnes, Jacob Sexton, Kaden Helms, Jake Taylor, [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], and even Nic Anderson (now at LSU). Williams, Sawchuk, Barnes, and Gibson will all be back for the Sooners in 2025. They’ve flashed star potential, but haven’t been able to stay on the field consistently.

The top-rated player in the class, [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag], has had some good moments. He started for the Sooners back in 2023 but was relegated to a rotational role the last couple of seasons. There’s some buzz that he might be switching to the offensive side of the ball to play H-Back, tight end for the Sooners in 2025.

The other four-star linebacker prospects, Lewis and Kobie McKinzie, will likely start for the Sooners defense this season. Lewis has made a number of game-changing plays, and McKinzie will have some big shoes to fill with the departure of the NFL-bound Danny Stutsman.

Going into 2025, the Sooners will be relying on a number of players from the 2022 recruiting class to play significant roles. If OU wants to contend for a playoff spot this year, they’ll need the guys on the offensive side to stay healthy and produce for the Sooners next year.

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Oklahoma Sooners quarterback ranked the best transfer portal fit

OU’s new quarterback was named the best fit of the transfer portal.

When the Oklahoma Sooners hired [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] to be their next head coach in December of 2021 to replace the departed Lincoln Riley, it signaled a switch from what OU fans were used to seeing on the field.

Riley, an offensive head coach, was gone to USC, and Venables, the former defensive coordinator at Clemson, was replacing him in Norman. So, just as defensive coordinator was the most important assistant on the staff under Riley, the offensive coordinator role would assume the greatest importance under Venables, a defensive guru.

Riley never figured it out at DC. Mike Stoops, Ruffin McNeil, and Alex Grinch proved to be ineffective at matching Riley’s explosive offensive output with a good defense. It led to Oklahoma being unable to compete with college football’s elite more often than not. Venables has to avoid making the same errors on the side of the ball where he isn’t the expert.

It started out well enough. Jeff Lebby called the shots for the first two seasons of the Venables era, with starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel under center. When Lebby left to become Mississippi State’s head coach, and Gabriel departed for Oregon, Venables replaced them with Seth Littrell at OC and Jackson Arnold at QB.

Those moves contributed to a very poor 2024 season in Norman, one that saw the offense bottom out. Littrell was fired after seven games, and Arnold is now an Auburn Tiger. Joe Jon Finley and Kevin Johns took over after Littrell’s dismissal, but only Finley remains on staff from that trio of coordinators in 2025, returning to coach tight ends only. Once again, offensive coordinator (and quarterback) were a need for Venables and his Sooners.

So, Venables hired Washington State’s [autotag]Ben Arbuckle[/autotag] to serve as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and call the plays in Norman.

Venables and Arbuckle quickly brought over [autotag]John Kuceyeski[/autotag] from Washington State as the senior offensive analyst/assistant quarterbacks coach after a mishandling of the quarterback position in 2024. Then, they looked for a starting quarterback for a massive 2025 season.

They got their guy in [autotag]John Mateer[/autotag], who started under center for Arbuckle and Kuceyeski in 2024. He led the FBS in total touchdowns in his first season as a starter after learning Arbuckle’s system in 2023 under Cam Ward. He was the top overall player in the NCAA’s winter [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] window. Mateer was a huge get for OU.

It was such a big win for Venables and his staff that ESPN staff writer Tom Luginbill, who ranked the best transfer portal QB fits in their new destinations (ESPN+), believes Mateer’s fit in his new spot is the best of the bunch. He’s No. 1 on Luginbill’s list.

“When Oklahoma hired Arbuckle on Dec. 2, Mateer’s move to Oklahoma seemed to make too much sense,” Luginbill said. “He knows the offense, has played at a high level, and will see the return of some of Oklahoma’s injured targets at wide receiver.”

Those returning injured wide receivers are [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], who Sooner Nation are hoping will have big comeback seasons in the crimson and cream next year. Luginbill went on further about Mateer’s excellent fit in Norman.

“Mateer will be like another coach on the field as he helps tutor the personnel around him,” Luginbill said. “Having a coach and play caller you trust, combined with an experienced quarterback, could be the magic needed for Oklahoma to get back on track in 2025.”

Magic is exactly the word some Sooner fans are hoping returns for their team in 2025. The 2024 season was very rough to watch, leading to a make-or-break season for Venables and his coaching staff this year. But if the Arbuckle-Mateer pairing pays dividends, Oklahoma could have rising stars at both the most important assistant coach spot under Venables and at the most crucial position on the field as well.

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Oklahoma Sooners earn commitment from transfer portal wide receiver

The Oklahoma Sooners picked up a commitment from wide receiver Javonnie Gibson via the transfer portal.

The Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver room is undergoing massive turnover this offseason. [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] will return, and they’ll have a new face in the wide receiver room. Oklahoma earned a commitment from Arkansas-Pine Bluff wide receiver Javonnie Gibson via the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] on Wednesday.

Gibson was incredibly productive in 2024, recording 70 receptions for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns.

At 6 feet, 3 inches and 205 pounds, Gibson was an unrated prospect coming out of high school. He was considered the No. 35 wide receiver in 247Sports transfer portal rankings. He has the size the Oklahoma Sooners are looking for on the outside.

He had five games of more than 100 yards receiving in 2024, including three games of more than 170 yards.

With some production at the collegiate level, Gibson will have an opportunity to compete for a starting job in the Sooners offense.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDurisbRRFH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Former Sooners WR Nic Anderson transfers to SEC school

Former Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Nic Anderson joining the LSU Tigers.

The Oklahoma Sooners’ wide receiver room faces a serious makeover this offseason. Of the players considered among of the top eight at the position, only [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] remain.

One of those wide receiver [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] departures was former four-star [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], who committed to the LSU Tigers. Anderson will return to Norman when LSU makes the trip for the 2025 season finale.

Anderson was a revelation in 2023, emerging in the wake of Andrel Anthony’s season-ending injury. Anderson caught the game-winner to beat Texas and had a career year with 798 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

However, an injury in fall camp forced him to miss the start of the season. He attempted to return against Tennessee but reaggravated his hamstring injury in the loss and missed the remainder of the season.

Anderson will join fellow former Sooner Bauer Sharp, who also transferred to LSU. They’ll join a Tigers offense that was one of the best passing offenses in the SEC in 2024. He will get the opportunity to catch passes from Garrett Nussmeier, who is likely to be a Heisman contender in 2025.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDs9LvhxvFa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

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4-Star wide receiver Emmanuel Choice signs with the Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma Sooners earn signature from 2025 four-star wide receiver prospect Emmanuel Choice.

The Oklahoma Sooners need a better year out of their wide receiver group in 2025. After losing their top five wide receivers for most of the year, Oklahoma will need some young guys to step up for new offensive coordinator [autotag]Ben Arbuckle[/autotag]. One player who has a chance to make an immediate impact is [autotag]Emmanuel Choice[/autotag], a four-star wide receiver in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

Choice signed with the Sooners during the [autotag]early signing period[/autotag], giving the Sooners another big-time weapon in the passing game.

Choice stands at 6-foot-5, weighs 195 pounds, and is another big wide receiver in the mold of [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], and [autotag]Ivan Carreon[/autotag].

Choice picked Oklahoma over offers from Nebraska, TCU, Texas A&M, and USC. He also held offers from Missouri, Texas, Ole Miss, and Tennessee.

Here’s what I had to say about Choice after he committed to the Oklahoma Sooners back in June.

Choice is a playmaker in every sense of the word for Lancaster High in Texas. He does a great job of using his 6-foot-5 frame and wingspan to go above the rim to beat cornerbacks in 50-50 situations. He’s a fluid route runner who has the ability to create yards after the catch due to his size and physicality.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDKFjTcRTHp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Film

Hudl

Rating

Stars Overall Position State
ESPN 3 — 62 60
Rivals 3 — 71 82
247Sports 3 — 73 70
247 Composite 4 289 39 41
On3 Recruiting 4 93 17 20
On3 Industry 4 254 35 32

Vitals

Hometown Lancaster, Texas
Projected Position Wide Receiver
Height 6-foot-5
Weight 195 pounds

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Oklahoma Sooners defensive back out for the season

Brent Venables shared on Tuesday that Gentry Williams will be out for the season.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been bitten by the injury bug during the 2024 season. At some very key positions, OU is down key players and starters that they thought they’d have during the year.

One of those positions is at cornerback. Last year, [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag] broke onto the scene, becoming a starter and a game-changer on the outside. He played through a shoulder injury, but was big for OU when he was on the field.

But in 2024, he reinjured his shoulder against Houston back on September 7 and hasn’t been available since.

In Tuesday’s press conference, head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] mentioned that Williams will miss the rest of the season, marking the fourth player that the Sooners have lost the season. Wide receiver [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], offensive lineman [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag] and cheetah [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag] have also been put on the shelf by their injuries.

Williams is such an impactful player when he’s healthy. Here’s hoping he can get back to 100% and help the Sooners win next season.

Oklahoma vs Ole Miss injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 9

All the latest updates and news on Oklahoma Football’s injury report ahead of a Week 9 game vs. Ole Miss.

The Oklahoma Sooners are preparing to take on the Ole Miss Rebels this Saturday, and they’ll once again be without plenty of key faces on offense.

OU will once again be without wide receivers [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] in this week’s game. They’ve already been ruled out along with defensive backs [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag] and offensive lineman [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag].

While Gibson, Dolby and Hatchett are all out for the 2024 season, there is still hope that Farooq, Anderson, Anthony and Williams could return this year.

Oklahoma injury report

Player Position Status 10/23
Jayden Gibson WR OUT
Jalil Farooq WR OUT
Gentry Williams DB OUT
Geirean Hatchett OL OUT
Nic Anderson WR OUT
Kendel Dolby DB OUT
Tyler Keltner K OUT
Andrel Anthony WR OUT
Deion Burks WR Questionable
Gavin Sawchuk RB Doubtful

Deion Burks injury update

Deion Burks has been out of action since Oklahoma’s loss to Tennessee but Brent Venables indicated earlier this week that he was day-to-day and is questionable for this week against Ole Miss. The Sooners offense needs some experience in the passing game and Burks return would provide a boost.

Burks is still Oklahoma’s leading wide receiver in 2024 despite not playing since the Tennessee game back in September. His return would be huge for this Sooner offense as they look to rebound and find ways to put points on the board amidst the changes at offensive coordinator.

Gavin Sawchuk injury update

Gavin Sawchuk was projected to be the starter and take the leap at running back for OU in 2024, but he has struggled in a big way, losing his lead role and getting less and less carries as the season rolls along.

According to head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], Sawchuk is dealing with a strained quad, which is why he didn’t play last week against the South Carolina Gamecocks. He could return this week, but it doesn’t look very likely.

 Ole Miss injury report

Player Position Status 10/23
Cedric Beavers CB OUT
Logan Diggs RB OUT
Matt Jones RB Doubtful
Tre Harris WR Questionable
Jayden Williams OL Questionable
Jeremy James OL Questionable
Princely Umanmielen DE Probable
T.J. Dottery LB Probable
Cayden Lee WR Probable

Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris is a player to watch this week. He’s the Rebels leading receiver and if he’s unable to go this week will create an interesting dilemma for the Ole Miss offense.

Princely Umanmielen and Cayden Lee are key players for the Rebels that look to be on track to play this week. Lee is second on the team in receiving and Umanmielen is Ole Miss’ highest-graded defensive lineman according to Pro Football Focus.

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Another starting wide receiver ruled out for Oklahoma’s game vs. Auburn

The Oklahoma Sooners will be missing another top wide receiver when they face the Auburn Tigers in Week 5.

The Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver room has been decimated by injuries.

They’ve been missing [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] since fall camp. [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] broke a foot in the first quarter of Week 1.  [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] played just a few snaps in Week 1 and hasn’t been seen since. [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] tried to return for Week 4 but left the game early.

Those four wide receivers, who were expected to provide big-time contributions in 2024, have combined for 24 snaps.

The Sooners will be without their best wide receiver, [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag], ahead of their matchup with the Auburn Tigers. According to Brent Venables, Burks suffered a soft tissue injury against Tennessee and was ruled out on Thursday evening.

That means Oklahoma is down its top five wide receivers for true freshman Michael Hawkins’ first start.

Oklahoma will turn to [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag] to fill Burks’ void in the slot. The former top-100 player looked explosive late in the loss to the Volunteers. He came through with three receptions for 79 yards, including a 46-yard catch and run that helped set up one of Oklahoma’s two touchdowns.

The Sooners will need true freshmen Zion Ragins, Zion Kearney and Ivan Carreon to step into bigger roles and through the rest of the season. It’s a great opportunity for the young players on the wide receiver depth chart to solidify their role on the depth chart.

Player Position Status 9/26
Jayden Gibson WR OUT
Jalil Farooq WR OUT
Gentry Williams DB OUT
Geirean Hatchett OL OUT
Nic Anderson WR OUT
Kendel Dolby DB OUT
Tyler Keltner K OUT
Andrel Anthony WR OUT
Taylor Tatum RB OUT
Deion Burks WR OUT
Tyler Keltner K OUT
Dasan McCullough LB Questionable
Jake Taylor OL Probable

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Oklahoma vs. Tennessee Injury Report, key Sooners set to return

Injury report highlights the possible return of four key players for the Oklahoma Sooners ahead of their showdown with Tennessee.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been bit by the injury bug in the early stages of the 2024 season. The Sooners have been playing without several key contributors at wide receiver and along the offensive line.

But the Sooners might be getting healthy at the exact right time based on the first injury report for Oklahoma’s week four matchup with the Tennessee Volutneers.

Oklahoma looks like they’ll be getting back several key contributors this week ahead of the top 15 SEC showdown.

Oklahoma

Player Position Status 9/18
Jayden Gibson WR OUT
Jalil Farooq WR OUT
Gentry Williams WR OUT
Geirean Hatchett OL OUT
Dasan McCullough LB Doubtful
Branson Hickman OL Questionable
Kade McIntyre TE Questionable
Jake Taylor OL Questionable
[autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] WR Probable
[autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] WR Probable
Kendel Dolby DB Probable
Troy Everett OL Probable

Starting wide receiver Nic Anderson, who’s been out since fall camp looks set to return. He warmed up with the team last week for the game against Tulane, but didn’t register a snap. If he can return for the Sooners against the Volunteers, it provides another weapon for Jackson Arnold to target.

In addition to Anderson, wide receiver Andrel Anthony may be back in the lineup this week. Anthony has been rehabbing the knee injury that sidelined him for the second half of the 2023 season. He was having a breakout year before tearing his ACL against Texas.

As important as those two wide receivers is the status of key interior offensive linemen, Branson Hickman and Troy Everett. Everett looks to return, given a probable designation, but Hickman might be a game-time decision as he’s been battling an ankle sprain.

The Sooners could use both veteran players ahead of this week’s matchup with a very good Tennessee Volunteers defensive front.

Though he’s listed as questionable along with Hickman, it seems less likely that Jake Taylor would play this week, given the number of injuries he’s suffered already in 2024. If he can’t play, then expect Michael Tarquin to remain at right tackle with Jacob Sexton at left tackle.

On the defensive side of the ball, standout cheetah linebacker Kendel Dolby appears to be ready to go after sitting out Oklahoma’s win over Tulane. In Tennessee’s uptempo offense, his ability to play in coverage and get after the quarterback will be needed for the Sooners defense to have success.

Gentry Williams, who opened the season as a co-starter, will miss his second-consecutive game. He’s been dealing with a shoulder issue that dates back to 2023. He had surgery in the offseason to stabilize it, but the injury has continued to persist into 2024. Without Williams in the lineup, look for another week of Kani Walker and Dez Malone, who both played well in the week three win over Tulane.

Tennessee

Player Position Status 9/18
Jourdan Thomas DB OUT
John Slaughter DB OUT
Shamurad Umarov OL OUT
Lance Heard OL Questionable
William Wright DB Probable
Ben Bolton LB Probable
William Satterwhite OL Probable

The big name to watch for the Tennessee Volunteers is standout offensive tackle Lance Heard. He’s been a big part of the Volunteers success early in the season but has been battling a sprained ankle.

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Is an Oklahoma Sooners young wide receiver ready to break out?

Is Sooners WR Jaquaize Pettaway ready to breakout?

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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