Tag: Reginald Virgil

Oklahoma Sooners miss out on pair of transfer wide receiver targets

Oklahoma Sooners miss out on a pair of wide receiver targets on Friday.

It’s no secret the Oklahoma Sooners are in the market for wide receivers in the winter [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] period. After losing Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony, Brenen Thompson, and Jaquaize Pettaway, the receiver depth chart is left without a lot of experience and production at the collegiate level.

Oklahoma targeted former Indiana receiver [autotag]Donaven McCulley[/autotag] and former Miami (Ohio) wideout [autotag]Reginald Virgil[/autotag]. Both players came off the board on Friday as McCulley stayed in the Big Ten and committed to Michigan. Virgil bypassed the Sooners for the Big 12, committing to Texas Tech.

It was felt that the Sooners had a great shot at Virgil, who is a childhood friend of OU wide receiver Jayden Gibson. Instead, it’s the Red Raiders that add Virgil.

So, the Oklahoma Sooners will continue their pursuit of big wide receivers with a track record of production at the collegiate level. They’ve been in pursuit of former Cal receiver Nyziah Hunter.

Hunter was a former four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class out of Salinas, California. As a redshirt freshman in 2024, Hunter recorded 40 receptions for 578 yards and five touchdowns for the Golden Bears.

Deion Burks’ future remains uncertain. While Jayden Gibson’s timeline puts him on track to return for fall camp, after the season OU just had at wide receiver, they need more security at the position.

Wide receivers coach Emmett Jones and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle have their work cut out for them rebuilding the wide receiver depth chart moving forward.

The Sooners will have a busy weekend as they host offensive linemen and wide receiver targets to bolster an offense that has to improve in 2025.

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Oklahoma veteran wide receiver entering the transfer portal

The Oklahoma Sooners are losing another wide receiver to the transfer portal according to On3 Sports.

The Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver room has been in turmoil throughout 2024. Injuries and inexperience limited production from a unit originally considered one of the deepest in the country in 2024. Just a couple of days into the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] period, [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag] and J.J. Hester have entered the portal. Now, [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] has joined them, entering the portal on Tuesday afternoon, according to On3 Sports.

Farooq, a four-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, was among the few holdovers from the Lincoln Riley era. He started at wide receiver in 2022 and 2023, but was limited to two games in 2024 after breaking his foot in the season opener against Temple on a 47-yard reception.

He didn’t play until the loss to Missouri, when he played 27 snaps and had two receptions for 11 yards.

In 2023, Farooq had 45 receptions for 694 yards and two touchdowns. His best performance as a Sooner came in the 2023 Red River Showdown, when he had five receptions for a career-high 130 yards, including big plays just before halftime and on the Sooners’ game-winning drive. Both receptions set up opportunities for the Sooners to score against the Longhorns.

Farooq will have one more year of eligibility after redshirting in 2024. He’s a talented player who can do a lot for an offense with his route running and athleticism.

To retool the wide receiver room with the key departures of Farooq and Anderson, the Sooners are pursuing wide receivers [autotag]Donaven McCulley[/autotag] and [autotag]Reginald Virgil[/autotag].

Though the Sooners have talented wide receivers remaining on the depth chart, Oklahoma will need a player or two with collegiate production to lead the way.

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Oklahoma Sooners lose starting wide receiver to transfer portal

Oklahoma has lost another wide receiver to the transfer portal.

The Oklahoma Sooners will be replacing their top two pass catchers this offseason.

[autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag] entered the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] earlier this week, and now, [autotag]J.J. Hester[/autotag] has as well. Hester is the third wide receiver to depart via the portal this cycle, following [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag] and [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag].

“First and foremost, thank you to my brothers and OU,” Hester shared on social media. “I’m grateful for everything that has happened throughout my career. Memories that’ll last forever. With that being said, I’ll be entering my name in the transfer portal.”

Hester was second on the Sooners in receiving yards with 315 yards on 14 receptions. He had one touchdown, a 90-yard score against Maine. His big game came against the Auburn Tigers: three receptions for 86 yards. His 60-yard reception helped set up a Jovantae Barnes two-yard score that put the Sooners back in the game at 21-16. Kip Lewis’ interception return for a touchdown followed and the Sooners earned their first SEC win.

After transferring from Missouri in 2022, Hester had a hard time getting on the field during his first two seasons in Norman. But with injuries at wide receiver, 2024 provided an opportunity to see extended playing time. Though the numbers may not be eye-popping, he provided an explosive element in the Sooners’ struggling passing game, averaging 22 yards per reception. Hester was second among Sooners wide receivers in snaps this season.

Oklahoma has been linked to wide receivers [autotag]Donaven McCulley[/autotag] and [autotag]Reginald Virgil[/autotag] in the first few days of the transfer portal as the Sooners look to rebuild their wide receiver corps.

More: 2024 Oklahoma Sooners transfer portal tracker

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Oklahoma Sooners pursuing electric transfer portal wide receiver

Oklahoma Sooners offer electric transfer wide receiver out of the MAC.

The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to add to their wide receiver ranks via the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. It was reported that the Sooners were set to host Indiana transfer wide receiver Donaven McCulley on Monday, but he isn’t the only wideout Emmett Jones and the Sooners are pursuing.

On Monday, Miami (Ohio) transfer wide receiver Reginald Virgil revealed the Sooners issued an offer on the opening day of the transfer portal.

Virgil had a breakout season in 2024 with 41 receptions for 816 yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 19.9 yards per reception this season, which was tied for ninth in the nation and led the MAC.

He had a stretch of seven straight games with a touchdown in 2024, including a two-touchdown game against Eastern Michigan (3 catches, 113 yards).

Virgil also had 100-yard days against Ball State and Northern Illinois. That’s the Northern Illinois team that beat Notre Dame.

He’ll go into his senior season in 2025, but the Sooners need experience and a track record of production to solidify the position in 2025.

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