Tag: Nic Anderson

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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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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Report Card: Young linemen, running backs stood out for the Sooners

With the final report card of the year, the Sooners’ young offensive linemen and running backs offer hope for the future.

Just like that, season 128 of Oklahoma football is done. By record, they were the worst Oklahoma team since 1998, finishing under .500 (6-7) on the season. However, after the Sooners’ performance against the No. 13 Seminoles, it’s hard to suggest they were as bad as that 1998 team.

Their performance against a good Florida State team offered hope. It provided encouraging signs as we head into the offseason.

Before doing so, we take a look at each position group and grade Oklahoma’s performance from the 35-32 loss to the Seminoles in the Cheez-It Bowl.

Oklahoma Sooners targeting a pair of wide receivers in the transfer portal

Oklahoma is looking to add to their wide receiver ranks with offers to a couple of transfer portal wideouts, RaRa Thomas and Dante Cephas. From @john9williams

As the transfer portal officially opened on Monday, the Oklahoma Sooners saw some depth walk out the door. Mostly, it’s been players that saw little to no playing time for Oklahoma in 2022, but at wide receiver, they’ve seen a bit more attrition.

[autotag]Theo Wease[/autotag] made it known last week he’d be entering the portal, and on Monday, [autotag]Brian Darby[/autotag] and [autotag]Trevon West[/autotag] also put their names in the transfer portal.

With the college football world doing some portal shopping, it looks like the Sooners are targeting a couple of wide receivers early in the process. Oklahoma offered Mississippi State transfer wide receiver [autotag]RaRa Thomas[/autotag] and Kent State wideout [autotag]Dante Cephas[/autotag].

Thomas was a three-star prospect in the 2021 cycle and put up 44 receptions for 626 yards and seven touchdowns for the Bulldogs in 2022. Cephas was also a three-star player in the 2019 class and recorded 48 receptions for 744 yards and three touchdowns.

Cephas had four receptions for 50 yards against Oklahoma in week two of the season, but his high moment came against Ohio, where he posted 13 receptions for 246 yards and a touchdown.

Thomas posted 5 receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown in a win against Texas A&M, went for 8 and 73 against Alabama, and recorded six catches for 84 yards and two touchdowns against Auburn.

Though [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] is playing in the bowl game, there’s a strong possibility that’s his last for the Sooners with an NFL draft decision looming. If Mims were to declare for the draft, that would leave Oklahoma with [autotag]Jalil Faroo[/autotag]q and [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] as the only Sooners wide receivers to play significant snaps in Norman.

The Sooners added [autotag]J.J. Hester[/autotag] and [autotag]L.V. Bunkley-Shelton[/autotag] in the portal late last spring, but they didn’t see the field much, so it’s difficult to know where they stand with the coaching staff. Both have experience from their previous stops and have playmaking ability, but Oklahoma would be wise to add some more depth.

Oklahoma will have quite a few young guys competing for snaps, like [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], and Freeman, along with incoming freshmen [autotag]Keyon Brown[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag] (assuming they sign).

We’ll see if Oklahoma’s able to close on either Cephas or Thomas, but it’s clear they believe they need to add some wide receiver depth in the portal this offseason to put them in a better position to contend in 2023.

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Oklahoma receives Rivals Futurecast for 2023 4-star prospect Malachi Coleman

Oklahoma’s battle with Nebraska this Saturday will have a little extra spice as top 100 recruit Malachi Coleman will be in the building.

While most of Oklahoma’s recruiting efforts have been finished since August, Oklahoma still has some potentially significant recruiting battles to be won.

One of those battles comes on the offensive side of the ball, where the Sooners look to stack up on playmakers as they continue to reshape and retool the offense in the way offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby wants it. He’s got his sights set on another offensive threat in the form of top 100 freak athlete Malachi Coleman who hails from Nebraska.

Coleman, listed as an athlete, initially profiles as a tight end or wide receiver at the next level for Oklahoma. His athleticism and measurables would make him a matchup nightmare.

He stands 6-foot-5 and just over 200 pounds. He can run and jump and has insane big play ability. If you’re keeping track at home, it fits in Lebby’s penchant for recruiting bigger receivers, a la Nic Anderson, Jayden Gibson, and transfer Javian Hester.

Many scouts believe he could be a prominent edge defender should he choose to go somewhere to play on the defensive side of the football. In short, he’s a must-have target for many schools simply because his ceiling is near limitless. The Sooners are in a neck-and-neck battle with their old foes, the Cornhuskers, for his services, and the game between the two schools this weekend will have a little extra meaning behind it. Coleman will be in Lincoln as two of his top schools battle it out.

Sooners Scoop recruiting editor Josh McCuiston seems to believe he’s seen enough to log a Rivals Futurecast in Oklahoma’s favor.

The insiders at 247Sports seem to believe solely in Nebraska, as the Cornhuskers currently have all of the crystal ball predictions in their favor.

This recruitment seems like it has a few more twists and turns but make no mistake, Oklahoma will keep up the pressure on Coleman. Considering they aren’t recruiting any other offensive players of note in the 2023 class anymore, Coleman would be a substantial cherry on top of a great recruiting class for 2023.

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Sooners commit Ashton Cozart visit to Oregon a cause of concern?

Should Oklahoma be concerned with committed players taking visits?

The temperatures outside aren’t the only things that look to be heating up this summer. The 2023 recruiting class is now at the forefront of the college football world as this summer represents their last summer before they decide on what their future holds for collegiate football.

The Oklahoma Sooners haven’t even hit double digits yet in terms of commits so they have quite a long way to go before they fill up their scholarships and so forth. However, they need to keep the guys they do have committed in the fold. No one has decommitted yet but our friends at Ducks Wire confirmed that Sooner wide receiver commit Ashton Cozart will be in Eugene, Oregon for a visit this weekend.

Cozart spoke with On3 earlier this month about his thoughts on recruiting and was on record saying, “In my opinion, in this industry, it’s become a business, so you can’t just be too high on one person because anything can happen,” Cozart told On3 earlier this month. “I’m still committed to Oklahoma but I think it’s smart to keep an eye on other opportunities as well and keep those relationships up.”

In many ways, he’s extremely right. That’s not the kicker though. The catch is that his would-be future head coach whom he committed to spoke candidly and passionately about commitments and scholarships needing to mean something and even compared recruiting to marriage in essence comparing the need to take additional visits as akin to dating someone while already married.

There’s another part of this equation that may be flying under the radar and not being considered when looking at this picture from a wider point of view. Since Cozart committed to the Oklahoma Sooners on February 4, the Sooners have landed not one but two transfer wide receivers with multiple years of eligibility. Javian Hester was first and just earlier this week LV Bunkley-Shelton joined the mix. Both primarily play in the slot which is not remotely close to what Cozart offers outside as a Z or X receiver.

However, that’s just another body and more reps that could be taken away from him on top of the other receivers the Sooners would return next year in Jalil Farooq, Jayden Gibson, and Nic Anderson too. Maybe after seeing this unfold and looking at things Cozart feels compelled to make sure his heart and his path to playing time still lead him to Norman and going on visits is a way of confirming or denying that. There are months between now and the time he has to sign the dotted line for his final decision.

No one knows for sure what’s going on behind the scenes but the situation is something to monitor going forward. How will Venables and the staff take to it? Will it have a lasting impact on recruiting going forward if the Sooners switch their policy or will the policy remain in place and the Sooners have a conversation with Cozart? We don’t know but we’ll continue to monitor Cozart’s recruitment going forward.

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Oklahoma Sooners get transfer portal wide receiver LV Bunkley-Shelton from Arizona State

For the second time in recent weeks, the Oklahoma Sooners land a wide receiver through the transfer portal, this time LV Bunkley-Shelton

Jeff Lebby is making quite the impression in the transfer portal pitching his offense of late. In back-to-back weeks, he’s landed another wide receiver out of the transfer portal with multiple years of eligibility. Last week it was Javian Hester, who transferred from Missouri. This week it’s LV Bunkley-Shelton, a transfer from Arizona State.

Bunkley-Shelton entered the portal on April 29 and shortly after began to take visits. He visited Oklahoma on May 7 and his official visit was spearheaded by Sooners’ former defensive back turned defensive assistant Jeremiah Criddell. Bunkley-Shelton and Criddell are both from California and played on the same 7-on-7 teams in high school. The Arizona State product narrowed his options to two schools, Oklahoma and Kansas. Ultimately, he chose the Sooners and spoke to 247’s Greg Biggins as to why:

“OU just stuck out a little more for me. They came after me hard right when I went in to the portal and made me feel like a priority. I really liked it there, it’s a big time program and I think I’ll fit in really well there. Having Jeremiah there was huge in my decision,” Bunkley-Shelton told Biggins. “He’s family, we’ve been close for a long time, since before high school. We played on GZ (Ground Zero, 7v7 program) together and he’s someone I know I can trust.”

“When you go somewhere new, it always helps to have someone there that you’re comfortable with and that’s definitely Jeremiah. I liked Oklahoma a lot as it was, but having him there helped put them over the top.”

As a redshirt freshman in 2021, Bunkley-Shelton hauled in 33 receptions for 418 yards and two touchdowns for the Sun Devils. He had 11 catches for 100 yards as a true freshman in 2020. He’ll have three years of eligibility remaining with the Sooners.

As a recruit, he was a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite rankings and No. 158 overall player in the nation. Bunkley-Shelton will join the Sooners in the summer in time for fall camp and will join a wide receiver room that includes [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], [autotag]Theo Wease[/autotag], [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag], and [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] plus transfer Javian Hester to go along with the two young four-star freshmen in Nic Anderson and Jayden Gibson.

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Sophomore WR Cody Jackson has opted to enter the transfer portal

After finishing spring ball, the Sooners see wide receiver Cody Jackson enter the transfer portal.

Much of the news after the spring game has been extremely positive in for the Oklahoma Sooners football program. However, the harsh reality of the transfer portal has led to a wide receiver deciding to move on. Wide receiver [autotag]Cody Jackson[/autotag] entered his name in the transfer portal Monday and it looks like he’ll find a new place to play in 2022.

This is similar to last spring when [autotag]Mike Woods[/autotag] played in Arkansas’ spring game only to transfer to Oklahoma shortly thereafter.

Jackson, who caught just five passes for 45 yards in his freshman season enters the portal with three years of eligibility remaining. He was one of the earliest commitments to the Sooners’ 2021 recruiting class. He committed nearly 2 years before signing with the Sooners and remained steadfast to his commitment the whole process.

He was a four-star recruit out of Foster, Texas (the same high school where Sooners legend [autotag]CeeDee Lamb[/autotag] came from) and only saw action in two games last year. He played in the Sooners’ wins in Norman against Western Carolina and Nebraska.

 

 

Jackson looked prime for more of an opportunity under offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby with several receivers departing via the transfer portal or to the NFL. But after sticking with the Sooners through the spring Jackson appears will be looking for a new home.

The Sooners’ receiver room looks pretty thin all things considered with [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], [autotag]Theo Wease[/autotag], [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], and [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] at the top of the depth chart. [autotag]Brian Darby[/autotag] and [autotag]Trevon West[/autotag] will figure into the rotation as well, while [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] and [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] have the potential to contribute in year one.

There is a good chance the Sooners will use the portal as a means to get one or two more receivers into the room if nothing else for depth purposes.

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5 freshmen we can’t wait to see in the Oklahoma Sooners Spring Game

5 freshman we’re looking forward to watching in the Oklahoma Sooners’ spring on Saturday.

When discussing Oklahoma’s spring game it’s very easy to focus on the more established players or those that have proven themselves in the collegiate ranks. However, the youngsters of the bunch, the freshmen, and the redshirt freshmen deserve some love as every team isn’t complete without its share of young studs that will eventually become the future stars and leaders of the team.

For Oklahoma, there are quite a few players that fit into this criteria especially considering how many players exited the Oklahoma program via the portal, headed to the NFL, or graduated from college.

For many freshmen, this may be the only time we get to see them on the field in 2022. For others, this might act as the springboard to a breakout freshman campaign.

We’ve amassed a list of five players with a freshman designation that we are looking forward to seeing participate in the Oklahoma spring game.

Jaren Kanak and Kani Walker were both featured when we looked at 5 Defensive players to watch in the Spring game, so we chose to highlight a couple other players we’re intrigued by.