Tag: Theo Wease Jr

‘He’s told the coaches he’s going to return’: Bob Stoops says Drake Stoops will return in 2023

Drake Stoops set to return to the Oklahoma Sooners for 2023.

There’s been speculation about [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag]’ intentions for the 2023 season, but that has been put to bed ahead of the Oklahoma Sooners’ matchup with the Florida State Seminoles. On an episode of Bob Stoops on the former Oklahoma head coach’s YouTube channel, Stoops was asked if Drake would be returning for another season in Norman.

Stoops said, “Yeah, he’s told the coaches that he’s going to return for his next year and take his COVID year and work on some particular things that he feels he can be better at. At this point, that’s where it’s at, and he’s set to play another year.”

That’s a massive boost for an Oklahoma wide receiver group that is in a period of flux. Questions remain about whether star wideout [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] will return for his senior season or make the jump and head to the NFL draft. Additionally, the Sooners have had three receivers enter the transfer portal. [autotag]Theo Wease[/autotag] was the most notable loss, as he was a contributor in his time in Norman.

Stoops’ return adds stability and ensures the Sooners will have at least two starting returners in Stoops and [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] if Mims does head to the NFL. In 2022, Stoops has tallied 37 catches for 366 yards and three touchdowns. He’s a big-time third-down target out of the slot because of his work in the intermediate areas of the field. That’s going to be a big help next year for whoever is under center in Norman.

Stoops is a veteran leader and presence in the locker room. His experience will be invaluable to younger receivers like Farooq, [autotag]LV Bunkley-Shelton[/autotag], [autotag]J.J. Hester[/autotag], [autotag]Gavin Freeman[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag], [autotag]Nicholas Anderson[/autotag], and incoming receivers like four-star signees [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag] and [autotag]Keyon Brown[/autotag].

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5 positions the Oklahoma Sooners should target in the transfer portal

The Oklahoma Sooners have some roster reconfiguration to accomplish and will look at the transfer portal to complete it. From @thatmanbryant

Oklahoma’s season is down to one last game against the Florida State Seminoles in the Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando, Florida. However, their preparation for Team 129 has already begun.

Numerous players have already entered the transfer portal or declared for the 2023 NFL draft.

Players like left tackle [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], running back [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag], defensive tackle [autotag]Jalen Redmond[/autotag], and right tackle [autotag]Wanya Morris[/autotag] were starters on this year’s squad and have already declared their intention to go to the NFL. Oklahoma will have to fill those voids for next season. Their replacements may be on the team already, but there’s a real possibility they aren’t.

The losses have left a hefty amount of bodies missing from the program right now, and while the recruiting class will fill some of them, the Sooners would love to have immediate answers via the transfer portal by guys with collegiate experience.

As Oklahoma looks to retool its roster for 2023, here are a few positions they should look to add talent to via the transfer portal. 

5 observations from the Oklahoma Sooners first official depth chart

Observations from the first official depth chart released by Oklahoma as the Sooners prepare for their week one matchup with UTEP.

Folks, we have arrived at the first game week of the season for the Oklahoma Sooners. The wait is nearly over and we are merely days away from meaningful football being played in Norman, Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been at it since the winter months getting in shape, lifting in the weight room before transitioning to spring ball, which culminated in one of the best spring game atmospheres the sport has ever seen.

All of that has led us to this week, which is the first game week for Brent Venables as head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners.

Venables will don the headset and will see his first team as the head coach take the field against a UTEP team that lost its first game against North Texas 31-13 during week zero.

While UTEP has game tape already out there for the Sooners to watch, the Miners will only be able to piece together information from watching last year and game plan based on the Sooners’ depth chart, which was released Monday morning.

We took a look at the depth chart and offered five observations below.

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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How does wide receiver Javian Hester fit with the Oklahoma Sooners?

Take a look at how new Sooners wide receiver Javian Hester fits within the Sooners’ new offense under Jeff Lebby.

A couple of days after landing their presumptive backup quarterback via the transfer portal, the Oklahoma Sooners returned to the transfer portal. This time, the Sooners will be welcoming a new receiver into the mix.

Javian “J.J” Hester committed to Oklahoma on Wednesday evening.

He redshirted in 2020 and then played in seven games in 2021, totaling 12 receptions, 225 yards, and two touchdowns. Hester is no stranger to the Sooner state. He is a native of Oklahoma, growing up in Tulsa, where he attended Booker T. Washington High School before going to Missouri.

Hester’s commitment may not shake up any projections about the depth chart, but make no mistake, this is no commitment to scoff at.

He stands a 6-foot-3 and has speed. He fits the physical mold of Jeff Lebby’s receivers perfectly. The place where Hester can carve out a space and niche next year is in the slot. Yes, the Sooners have options in the slot in [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] and [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag], but Hester is no slouch there and is quite comfortable operating as a “big slot.” In 2021, he lined up in the slot on 70% of his snaps for Missouri.

The Big 12 has a lot of smaller nickel corners for the typically smaller slot receiver builds that dominate inside. Hester’s size against some of those smaller defenders could present another headache for defenses to account for when preparing for Oklahoma in the fall.

Do you match Hester with a more undersized cornerback with better coverage skills? Or do you play a bigger safety that may not be as comfortable covering a receiver that big 1-on-1?

Hester comes in as a redshirt sophomore, giving him a few more years as a Sooner, which could be very beneficial, not just for this season but also for the next. Marvin Mims, Drake Stoops, and [autotag]Theo Wease[/autotag] are likely to bolt the for the NFL Draft. The talent and experience levels drop considerably across the wide receiver position group whenever those three depart. Bringing in the former four-star wide receiver could help mitigate the losses on the depth chart.

With the experienced and talented Hester in the ranks, offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby has another weapon to deploy alongside Marvin Mims, Theo Wease, [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], and Drake Stoops. That depth will provide some problematic questions for opposing defensive coordinators to answer week-to-week in the 2022 season.

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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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Oklahoma Sooners 2022 transfer portal tracker

Who have the Oklahoma Sooners lost or gained in the 2022 transfer portal? This handy-dandy tracker will keep you up to date.

The transfer portal for the Oklahoma Sooners has been as busy as I-35 and I-40 through Oklahoma City over the last month. They’ve seen starters load up the moving trucks and find new homes out east and other players withdrawal their names from the portal.

The biggest name to hit the portal since Spencer Rattler left for South Carolina entered his name into the pool of players on Monday. Caleb Williams, who is exploring his options after the departure of Lincoln Riley to USC hasn’t ruled out a return to Oklahoma, but he will certainly test the transfer market.

Not long after Williams made it known he’d explore the transfer portal, the Sooners received some relief from the quarterback exits from quarterback Dillon Gabriel, the former UCF quarterback. Gabriel was committed to UCLA in the portal, but his close connection to offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby led to a flip of commitment, and Gabriel is now a member of the Oklahoma Sooners.

The portal has been busy and there are several more subtractions and additions that could occur this offseason. We’ll keep you updated here at Sooners Wire with every transfer portal transaction.

Oklahoma Sooners WR Theo Wease announces he’s got ‘unfinished business’

Oklahoma Sooners Wide Receiver Theo Wease announced via his Twitter account that he’ll be staying put for the 2022 season.

Oklahoma has seen several players enter the transfer portal in the last couple of weeks. After the news came down that Lincoln Riley was moving west, several Sooners found new homes through the portal.

Spencer Rattler and Austin Stogner will play for South Carolina next season and Jadon Haselwood will employ his talents for the Arkansas Razorbacks in 2022.

Well, the Sooners finally got some good news on the portal front as wide receiver Theo Wease announced via his Twitter account that he’s “here to stay.”

Wease missed the 2021 season with a lower body injury, but appeared to be close to returning the last several weeks of the season. Now, the Sooners get Wease for 2022.

According to Eddie Radosevich of SoonerScoop.com, Wease has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal.

In 2020, Theo Wease tied for the team lead in receptions with Marvin Mims for the Sooners. With Haselwood and Stogner gone there will be an opportunity for Wease to pick up where he left off when we last saw him play.

Heading into 2022, Wease looked to be the veteran leader in the wide receiver room. When he returns, he’ll join Marvin Mims and Mario Williams as Oklahoma’s top three wide receivers. Wease will have an opportunity to resume his role as the possession receiver in the offense and the Sooners will need him to take a step forward as an offense next season.

Now the Sooners await word from several more veterans who could enter the transfer portal or declare for the NFL draft as they look to put together their 2022 depth chart.

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Oklahoma Sooners’ true freshman among the best in college football

The Oklahoma Sooners have been the beneficiary of yet another standout true freshman wide receiver a year after Marvin Mims led the Sooners in receiving.

The Oklahoma Sooners have hit home runs lately in their recruiting. So well, that several true freshmen have been able to contribute early. Last year saw Marvin Mims and Seth McGowan play key roles for the Oklahoma Sooners.

In 2021, the Sooners are getting contributions again from a true freshman wide receiver in Mario Williams.

Brad Shepard of Bleacher Report highlighted the best true freshmen in college football through the first three weeks of the season and Mario Williams was featured.

All the 5’9″, 186-pounder has done in Norman is squeeze his way onto a crowded depth chart, where he’s the No. 3 receiver on the title-contending Sooners. Quarterback Spencer Rattler and OU’s passing attack hasn’t gotten going yet, sitting 87th in yards per game, and though Marvin Mims (168) and Jadon Haselwood (127) have higher yardage totals than Williams, it isn’t by much. – Shepard

Williams has had a key role in the offense each of the first three weeks of the season with veteran Theo Wease out of action with an injury. Williams was the most targeted wide receiver in week one as the offense attempted to get the bubble screen going against Tulane. In week two, he led the team in receiving before halftime when the starters were still playing against Western Carolina. In week three, though Jadon Haselwood led the way in targets, Williams was just behind him with five of his own.

In the first three games of the season, he’s failed to see fewer than four targets and he’s just behind Haselwood for the team lead in targets and receptions.

Mario Williams has taken full advantage of his opportunity and will continue to make plays in the passing game. He provides the Sooners with another downfield threat but can make plays after the catch in the short or intermediate parts of the field as well.

While teams attempt to take away Marvin Mims in the passing game, and Jadon Haselwood has emerged as a threat as well, opportunities abound for the fab freshman wide receiver. As teams attempt to take away the deep passing game, the Sooners will continue to look to Mario Williams to make plays with the ball in his hands. And through three games this season, there’s no reason to believe he won’t continue to do so.

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Pair of Oklahoma wide receivers listed on Draft Wire’s watch list

Pair of Oklahoma Sooners’ wideouts make Draft Wire’s NFL draft watch list at the position.

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When it comes to the NFL draft there are three Oklahoma Sooners mentioned more than any others. It begins and ends with quarterback Spencer Rattler, more often than not he is viewed as the No. 1 overall prospect. Continue reading “Pair of Oklahoma wide receivers listed on Draft Wire’s watch list”