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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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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.
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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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 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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Deion Burks flashed his exceptional skills and his chemistry with Jackson Arnold.
Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] has stolen the show both times he’s appeared in front of Sooner fans in 2024.
In April, he was the star of the spring game after transferring from Purdue this winter. Everyone left spring ball thinking he could become an explosive weapon in OU’s passing game.
In his first OU football game last Friday night, Burks was at it again, catching six passes for 33 yards and three touchdowns against Temple. He emerged as a star and the focal point of the passing game as the Sooners won 51-3.
Burks has gone from one of the guys to “the guy” for sophomore quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and new offensive coordinator [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag]. He has been the only starter at wide receiver that has been immune to the injury bug, and his performance against the Owls could signal the start of a colossal season in 2024.
Oklahoma will be without [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] for the season and will not have [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] for at least the next six to eight weeks. As [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] and [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] continue to work back from their injuries, Burks’ role in the offense will only increase in the early stages of the year.
The first-year Sooner has a chance to join some of the great OU names at wide receiver if he continues to lead the way as Arnold’s go-to target. It’s been a couple of years since Oklahoma had a true No. 1 wideout, but if Burks continues to shine, he could etch his name in the history books in 2024.
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The Oklahoma Sooners could get back some key personnel for their week two matchup with the Houston Cougars.
The Oklahoma Sooners are dealing with a rash of injuries to key personnel on the offensive side of the ball.
Wide receiver [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] and offensive tackle [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] missed Friday’s win over Temple. Starting center [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] was lost due to an ankle sprain in the first quarter.
All three have a chance to be back for Week 2 against the Houston Cougars.
On his weekly coach’s show, Sooners head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] shared that Branson Hickman looked good at practice Monday evening but is questionable for this week’s showdown with Houston. If he were unable to go, Oklahoma could go with [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag], the Washington transfer who slid over to center in the first half after Hickman went down. Or, they could roll with [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag], who made a lot of noise in fall camp for his work and his improvement. He was banged up toward the end of the August and didn’t play until the second half last week against Temple.
The Oklahoma Sooners need [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] back. The Sooners were already down [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], who was ruled out for the year during fall camp. Then, they lost Jalil Farooq for 6 to 8 weeks with a broken foot. The Sooners’ wide receiver depth is pretty thin at this point. Getting Anderson back would provide a huge boost to the passing attack. He had nearly 800 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns in 2023 and was expected to be a significant part of the offense this year, but has been hobbled since fall camp.
The projected starter most likely to return this week, and one the Sooners need to get in the mix, is right tackle [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag]. Taylor had a strong offseason and beat out [autotag]Spencer Brown[/autotag] to earn the starting role along Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line. His unavailability was noticeable against Temple, as the Sooners had a hard time blocking on the right side of the formation.
At some point, the Oklahoma Sooners need to begin building continuity and cohesion with their offensive line. But the injuries they’re dealing with makes that difficult. If Taylor and Hickman can go this week and next against Tulane, it will give the Sooners an opportunity to see their starting five together for a couple of weeks before the Tennessee Volunteers roll into town.
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