Tag: Nic Anderson

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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New wide receiver emerging as Sooners’ lead target

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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Brent Venables provides injury update to trio of Sooners starters

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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Bauer Sharp answered the question at tight end for the Sooners

Bauer Sharp impressed in this first game as a Sooner. Can he step up in the passing game?

Coming into the 2024 season, the Oklahoma Sooners had some questions at the tight end position.

Two years ago, [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag] was one of the best players on the team, combining his ability as a receiver with his excellent blocking skills to have a very productive season. Though OU went just 6-7, the senior had a career year in his final collegiate season, catching 39 passes for 514 yards and seven touchdowns while opening up holes in the running game.

Last year, the Sooners expected similar contributions from [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag], who returned to Norman after a year in South Carolina. But the tight end production dipped, as Stogner caught just 17 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown. He also struggled to match Willis’ effectiveness as a blocker. Too often last season, it felt like OU was playing 10-on-11 when running the ball with a tight end in the game.

But that’s where Southeastern Louisiana tight end [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag] comes in. After serving as a game captain, he ended the night as OU’s leading receiver with 47 yards on five catches with a touchdown. He seemed to be the only option aside from Burks that could consistently create separation and catch the ball.

Though he came from an FCS school, Sharp looked the part of a Power Four tight end. He and [autotag]Jake Roberts[/autotag] got the initial snaps at tight end, with the latter serving in more of a blocking role. Sharp, who started the game, has been earning high praise since the spring, with one player in his corner being superstar senior linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag].

Sharp displayed sound chemistry with [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], often acting as a safety valve over the middle of the field for his quarterback as pressure closed in. With the struggles of the offensive line and the running game, he’ll be asked to provide more in the passing game, especially until the bigger names get healthy.

Of course, it’s only been one game. Maybe the running game will get on track in the next couple of weeks. Maybe the offensive line gets healthy and in sync. Maybe [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag], [autotag]J.J. Hester[/autotag] and the other depth options at wide receiver just had a rough night and will be just fine. Maybe [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] gets back to his pre-injury self much earlier than expected and [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] is able to stave off any other injuries. .

But in the meantime, Bauer Sharp will need to build on his strong first game in a Sooner uniform to take some of the load off of Arnold and [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag]. Oklahoma has a struggling Houston squad on the schedule next, before a sneaky non-conference game against Tulane. The Sooners need to use the next two weeks to find a rhythm and an identity running and throwing the ball in [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag]’s offense before the Tennessee Volunteers and conference play arrive on their doorstep on September 21st.

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The Good, the bad and the ugly from the Oklahoma Sooners win over Temple

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Oklahoma Sooners week one win over the Temple Owls.

The Oklahoma Sooners had a strong start in their 51-3 win over the Temple Owls. They did just enough on offense to take advantage of a great defensive effort.

Oklahoma knew it didn’t need to go deep into the playbook to beat the Owls. While the offensive performance isn’t quite what we’d expect from the Sooners, it didn’t need to be for OU to win and cover the 42 1/2-point spread.

There was a lot of good in Oklahoma’s win over the Owls and some stuff that has to improve as the Sooners move through the 2024 season. Here’s a look at the first installment of the good, the bad and the ugly from Week 1.

The Good: Defense is Back in Norman

It’s just one game, but the Oklahoma Sooners defense looked great against the Temple Owls on Friday night.

The Sooners held Temple to less than 200 yards of total offense and 1.9 yards per carry. Oklahoma’s defense recorded six turnovers, the most in a game since 2003. It also recorded six sacks and nine tackles for loss. The production came from everyone.

The Owls couldn’t get much going offensively as the Sooners frustrated them with a relentless defensive effort.

The Sooners will face tougher teams down the road, but you have to be happy about what they put on the field to start the 2024 season.

The Bad: Run Game Needs Work

Yes, the Oklahoma Sooners ran for 217 yards. You take the 28 yards from sacks out of the equation and the yardage number jumps to 245. On the surface, that looks pretty good. But nearly a third of that rushing total came on the final drive when [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag] and [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag] added 76 yards to the total.

In the first half, OU ran for 4.1 yards per carry. By contrast, the Sooners averaged 9.1 yards per carry in the second half. A much better number, but Temple went deeper into the depth chart as the game went on.

Yes, the offense had a vanilla game plan, but the first-team offense should have been more effective against the Temple Owls. The unit was without [autotag]Jake Taylor[/autotag] and lost [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] to injury in the early going.

The Sooners will have an opportunity to right the ship when they take on a Houston Cougars team that allowed UNLV to rush for nearly 200 yards and average 4.1 yards per carry.

The Ugly: Wide Receiver Depth takes another Hit

The Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver room was lauded this offseason for being one of the deepest in the nation. Well, that depth is going to be put to the test as the Sooners suffered another significant injury.

[autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], who was third on the team in receiving yards in 2023, was expected to have another strong season but suffered a broken foot in the first quarter of the win over Temple. That’s the second significant injury suffered by the wide receiver during the last month. [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] was lost for the season in the preseason.

[autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] has been banged up and is expected to be ready to roll this week against the Cougars, and Oklahoma will need the breakout star from 2023 to have a repeat season this year.

[autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] looked good and [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] is off to a nice start to the season. But the Sooners need Anderson back and will need a younger player to earn a significant role in the wide receiver rotation.

Oklahoma can’t afford another significant wide receiver injury.

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Sooners wide receiver Jalil Farooq expected to miss significant time with injury

The Oklahoma Sooners will be without wide receiver Jalil Farooq for an extended period of time.

The Oklahoma Sooners went into fall camp feeling great about a deep wide receiver room. Fast forward through the first week of the regular season and that depth has evaporated.

Despite a 51-3 win over Temple, the Sooners have taken a hit on the injury front.

Senior wide receiver [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] hauled in a 47-yard reception to help the Sooners score on their first possession. He then left the game and was seen on the sidelines with a walking boot. In his postgame press conference, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] revealed that Farooq will miss the next 6-8 weeks with a broken foot.

https://twitter.com/JoshMCallaway/status/1829718447120331055

Oklahoma lost [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] for the season during fall camp and were without [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] in week one. [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] made his return to the field, but had a limited snap count, making one catch for four yards.

Transfer wide receiver [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] was really good in his debut for the Sooners, catching three touchdowns on six receptions. But Oklahoma’s going to need someone to step up among their young blue chip wide receivers. [autotag]Ivan Carreon[/autotag], [autotag]Zion Kearney[/autotag], [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag], and [autotag]Zion Ragins[/autotag] each earned time in the win over Temple, but they’ll likely be asked to do more over the next two months while Farooq works his way back to the field.

https://twitter.com/EricBaileyTW/status/1829720359077363750

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3 Freshmen to watch in Oklahoma’s matchup with the Temple Owls

Which three freshmen are we looking forward to watching when the Oklahoma Sooners take on the Temple Owls?

The Oklahoma Sooners open the season with the Temple Owls on Friday night, giving us our first glimpse of team 130. The Sooners have improved their depth over the three offseasons that Brent Venables has been in Norman.

Heading into the 2024 season, the Oklahoma Sooners have 18 true freshmen on their initial depth chart. The talented 2024 recruiting class will have an impact on both the present and the future, but we might get our first chance to see several of those impact freshmen this week when the Sooners take on a Temple team that went 3-9 in 2023.

Here are three freshmen to watch this week.

1. Michael Hawkins, QB

[autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag] earned the backup quarterback job out of fall camp and will have a chance to get some action against Temple. When he does see the field, Hawkins will be must-see television.

He’s got excellent athleticism and a really good arm. If the Sooners can generate a healthy lead by the second half, look for offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] to get Hawkins some action.

2. Jayden Jackson, DT

In a surprise, [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] earned the starting defensive tackle spot next to [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag]. He’ll have to keep the role, but Jackson has the size, strength, and athleticism to be an impact player for the Sooners in year one.

Oklahoma will use a rotation, but Jackson is going to be a key piece to the Sooners’ success in 2024.

3. Zion Kearney, WR

The Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver depth has taken a hit during fall camp. Oklahoma will be down [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] this week, and although [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] will be available, they’ll make sure he’s safe as he makes his return to the field for the first time since last October.

The Sooners will need some of their younger wide receivers to play some this week, and that opens the door for a guy like [autotag]Zion Kearney[/autotag] to get an opportunity. He’s got really good speed and athleticism to be an impact player in the Sooners offense.

Other freshmen like [autotag]Reggie Powers[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Boganowski[/autotag] have made noise in fall camp and will certainly get a lot of playing time. A guy like [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag] will get some run. He was listed as the fourth running back on the depth chart to start the season and has been impressive since arriving in the summer.

If everything goes according to plan, the Sooners should get an opportunity to see several freshmen this week.

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Brent Venables updates injury status for pair of key wide receivers ahead of Temple

Brent Venables revealed that Nic Anderson will be out this week but Andrel Anthony will return vs. Temple.

The Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver room has been banged up this offseason. It’s arguably the deepest position group on the team, bu that depth has taken a hit through fall camp.

[autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] will be out for the season, and now we know that [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] will be out for Oklahoma’s week one matchup with Temple. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] confirmed that Anderson will miss week one.

Both players figured to be among the Sooners’ top four wide receivers this fall.

However, some good news came from Venables’ press conference. Wide receiver [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] will return to the field, suiting up for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury during Oklahoma’s win over Texas.

Anderson had a breakout campaign in 2023, hauling in 38 receptions for 798 yards and 10 touchdowns. Though listed as day-to-day by Venables earlier in the week, the Sooners will likely be patient with his recovery, knowing they’ll need Anderson for tougher contests ahead.

Anthony was experiencing a breakout season in his own right in the first half of the year. After catching just 19 passes in his first two seasons at Michigan, Anthony tallied 27 receptions for 429 yards and a touchdown before missing the second half of the season.

All eyes turn to senior [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], incoming transfer [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag], emerging speedster [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag], and Anthony to lead the Sooners passing attack this week against the Owls.

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Brenen Thompson rising to the occasion ahead of first career start

Brenen Thompson has had a fantastic offseason and looks like a breakout candidate ahead of his first career start.

It’s no secret the deepest unit on the team has faced its challenges in fall camp. The Sooners lost [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] for the season. [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] was banged up early but looks to be on tract to start against Temple. [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] is working his way back from the season-ending knee injury he suffered against Texas last season, but [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] says there are no limits for Anthony as the season approaches. Another projected starter, [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] is currently listed day-to-day.

That’s opened the door for one of the under-the-radar options to take advantage and cement his place in the starting lineup come week one. Former Texas Longhorns transfer [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] is slated to start this Friday night against the Temple Owls. The speedster played in a rotational role in 2023, flashing his big-play speed with seven catches for 241 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged an incredible 34.4 yards per reception in limited time.

As the Sooners start the season, Brent Venables is pleased with the growth Thompson has shown ahead of his first collegiate start.

“He’s become one of our best leaders,” head coach Brent Venables said Monday. “Incredibly vocal. Really bright young guy that really cares about his teammates. He can run the entire route tree. He’s focused on not being labeled as just a nine-route or go-ball guy. He’s done a great job, whether it’s the curls, the mesh, the digs, cross the middle of the field. Shows great toughness and durability.”

The toughness and durability are going to be key for the Sooners going forward. But hearing Venables talk about Thompson’s expanded route tree shines a light on what the former track star could do for the Sooners.

If Thompson can be a threat to the defense at every level of the passing attack, it will open up so many more options for the Sooners offense. Combined with a guy like Deion Burks, who has flashed the speed to win deep as well, defenses will have a difficult time accounting for the speed that the Sooners have at wide receiver. And because of that speed, defensive coordinators will be forced to leave two safeties high, which will open up options in the short to intermediate passing game as well as the rushing attack.

Thompson has shown the potential to be a dynamic weapon in the Sooners offense, but there wasn’t a clear path to playing time. The injuries Oklahoma’s suffered, combined with his fantastic offseason have opened the door for Thompson to have a breakout season for the Sooners.

“I think (my expectations) are the highest,” Thompson said. “I think I got the highest expectations, even over Coach V. I think my expectations of myself are higher than what he has for me. I’m trying to go win for this team. I’m trying to put this team first. I’m trying to do everything in my ability to win for this team.”

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What an opposing coach thinks about Jackson Arnold?

The Sooners officially hand the reins over to Jackson Arnold on August 30th.

The college football season starts in a matter of days, with Week Zero action on Saturday, August 24th featuring four FBS games. The slate is headlined by Florida State vs. Georgia Tech in an ACC battle taking place in Ireland. Six days later, the Oklahoma Sooners will take on the Temple Owls on Friday, August 30th to kick off their 2024 season.

There is optimism in Norman this year, despite the brutal realities of a very tough [autotag]SEC[/autotag] schedule.

Head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] enters Year 3 with a veteran-led defense that projects as the best Oklahoma has had in a long time.

On offense, sophomore quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] steps into the driver’s seat, a moment that Sooner Nation has been anticipating for years. He needs to gain experience and reps with live bullets flying, but his upside and talent have the coaching staff excited. He’ll be relying on a deep core of weapons and a rebuilt offensive line to help him put points on the scoreboard.

But just about every team is excited about their quarterback this time of year, whether it’s a new player or a returning starter. To cut through the clutter, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg “spoke with more than 25 head coaches and defensive assistants (mostly coordinators) during the spring and summer to gather intel on the top returning quarterbacks and what to expect (ESPN+) — both good and bad — this fall.”

Arnold was one of many quarterbacks profiled and a familiar name for Sooner fans went on record to give a very positive evaluation of the former five-star prospect. Here’s what Rittenberg heard on Arnold.

“The Sooners had a peaceful transition of QB power from [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] to Arnold, ESPN’s No. 3 overall recruit in the 2023 class,” Rittenberg said. “Like Gabriel, Arnold is a shorter quarterback (6-1) with dual-threat ability and a track record of prolific passing (more than 7,000 yards in high school). Arnold started the Alamo Bowl against Arizona and had 361 pass yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. His first season as OU’s full-time starter coincides with the team’s move to the SEC, which brings a schedule featuring Alabama, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU in addition to the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag] game against Texas.”

The coach that Rittenberg spoke to about OU’s new man under center was former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag], who recruited Arnold to come to Norman, coached him last season as a freshman and is now the head coach at Mississippi State. Predictably, Lebby is still very high on his prized recruit.

“He’s going to have a chance to have a really good year,” said Lebby. “They’ve got some really good pieces around him. They’re going to be better at tight end, better at running back, and they’ve got some great, great pieces in the receiver room. He’s set up really, really well.”

The pieces around Arnold are solid, as running back [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and wide receivers [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag], [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] and [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] are all really good weapons. If the tight end position improves as Lebby believes it will and the new offensive line gels, Arnold could be leading a very productive offense into battle each Saturday.

Arnold is now in the hands of co-offensive coordinators [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag]. The latter will continue to coach tight ends while the former will replace Lebby as the play caller and quarterbacks coach, meaning he’ll be speaking to Arnold throughout the game in college football’s new helmet communication system. Littrell and Arnold had a good relationship while Littrell was an offensive analyst in 2023. The development of the young QB is squarely on the shoulders of the former North Texas head coach.

Oklahoma’s success won’t depend entirely on Arnold going nuclear every week in 2024. However, the Sooners will need him to be a star if they want to navigate the difficult SEC slate successfully and take another step forward in Venables’ third season.

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