Tag: Theo Wease

Spencer Rattler talks Theo Wease and Jadon Haselwood return

Spencer Rattler discusses Theo Wease and Jadon Haselwood entering 2021.

There are high expectations placed on Oklahoma’s receiving corps entering 2021. Theo Wease and Jadon Haselwood return in key roles in Spencer Rattler’s supporting cast.

OU receivers dropped nine passes in the end zone in 2020, and Lincoln Riley vocalized his disappointment in the unit’s production after the season. Gone are the days of household names CeeDee Lamb and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. New rising stars in Crimson and Cream now have opportunities. Players will have to step up.

Haselwood missed the majority of the 2020 season after suffering an ACL injury. His contested catch ability is elite, and he will make an impact in Oklahoma’s passing attack come fall. Haselwood’s return will elevate OU’s vertical attack.

Wease emerged last season despite the drops. He notched 37 receptions for 530 yards and four touchdowns. Wease made several splash plays working the middle of the field and turned short routes into big gains with his elusive yards-after-catch ability.

Rattler has been working with both former five-star recruits throughout the offseason to build camaraderie for the 2021 season.

“Theo and Jadon have been great this offseason. Jadon coming back from his ACL; he looks amazing. Theo is back, and he looks great as well. Those are two guys that can go make big plays for us. They got the speed. They got get-offs at the line. They do a lot of great things for our offense, and, you know, I have been specifically working with those guys a lot this offseason in seven-on-(seven) and stuff like that just to get our chemistry back with being away for a month or so after the season.”

With the load of talent in the room — Marvin Mims, Mario Williams and Drake Stoops are in the mix with Wease and Haselwood — the upcoming season will be a tremendous year for Oklahoma’s passing game. With consensus Heisman front-runner leading the charge and numerous weapons at his disposal, the sky is the limit.

Sooners wide receiver named true freshman with ‘Best Hands’ by ESPN

The Sooners have an experienced group at the top of their wide receiver depth chart, but freshman Mario Williams will have a big impact.

There’s a lot of excitement about the Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver group heading into 2021. With Marvin Mims, Theo Wease, and Jadon Haselwood returning, Spencer Rattler has a solid and experienced group of players to throw to. One player that will get a ton of snaps but may not start wowed observers during the spring with his playmaking ability: true freshman Mario Williams.

Williams, the five-star wide receiver in the 2021 class, stood out in the spring game with a highlight contested-catch win over D.J. Graham. He looks to be a contributor early on for the Sooners.

Earlier this week, ESPN Staff Writer Craig Haubert handed out “superlatives” for college football’s true freshman (link requires subscription), and wide receiver Mario Williams made the list because of his impressive hands.

There’s a reason Williams is the No. 1-ranked wideout. Within this receiver class, the Oklahoma signee is neither the biggest nor the overall fastest, but he has always stood out as a great competitor with sharp technique as a route runner and excellent ball skills. A top-20 player nationally, Williams has consistently exhibited strong, quick hands to snatch the ball out of the air, whether he’s wide open or contested by a defensive back. Having great hands also includes a seamless transition upfield after the catch, and Williams excels at that, too. – Haubert

Having reliable hands will always endear a player to a coaching staff and, more importantly, a quarterback. Showing consistency when the ball is thrown your way is the easiest way to earn playing time.

Mario Williams will attempt to have a similar impact as a true freshman that fellow receiver Marvin Mims had in 2020. Like Mims (fourth in wide receiver snaps in 2020), Williams may not get a ton of snaps, but he’s a player who will make the most of his opportunities when he is in the game.

Oklahoma Sooners 2021 offensive depth chart projection 3.0

With the departures of three skill position players and an offensive lineman, the Oklahoma Sooners depth chart has seen some turnover in recent months.

Over the last couple of months, the Oklahoma Sooners offensive depth chart has been hit by players getting dismissed from the program. Back in May, it was Trejan Bridges and Seth McGowan on the way out. Yesterday, the University of Oklahoma dismissed Mikey Henderson from the program after an alleged incident involving all three.

Stacey Wilkins entered the transfer portal, and while it doesn’t appear that he’s found a new home yet, it’s likely he’s playing elsewhere in 2021.

While it’s a loss for the program on the depth chart, it creates new opportunities. In particular, a guy like Marcus Major benefits greatly from sliding up the depth chart. Overlooked a bit because of Seth McGowan in 2020 and still a bit because of LSU transfer Tre Bradford, Major has an opportunity to find a role as the team’s third running back.

Much of the depth chart remains unchanged, though the Spring Game gave us more insight into how the center competition is unfolding. Andrew Raym looks to be leading the pack at this point, but with Summer workouts ongoing and camp around the corner, the competition is still up for grabs. Don’t count Robert Congel or Chris Murray out just yet.

Even with the departure of Trejan Bridges, the Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver group looks incredibly deep. They return their leading receivers from 2020 in Marvin Mims and Theo Wease on the outside. Jadon Haselwood, who figures to get time at all three wide receiver spots, could be a big slot for Lincoln Riley and the Sooners’ offense. His size and athleticism would be a huge mismatch for slot corners or safeties.

The Sooners will likely rotate each of their starters through the slot to keep defenses off-balance and exploit mismatches.

Though Henderson was making the switch from H-Back to running back this offseason, he would have still been able to give you some snaps behind Jeremiah Hall. Now that will fall to Brayden Willis or Austin Stogner, who are more traditional tight ends.

Oklahoma receiving corps: ‘The world’s going to see what this unit can do’

A look into how Oklahoma’s receiving corps currently stands heading into the 2021 season.

It is no secret or surprise that head coach Lincoln Riley was vocal on his displeasure with the receiving corps in 2020. The group did not meet his expectations and frankly dropped the ball, pun intended. According to Pro Football Focus, Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler had the most dropped touchdown passes in the end zone (9).

“I think we led college football in most dropped touchdowns, if I’m not mistaken,” Jadon Haselwood described to media. “I don’t know, something like that. That’s not us. We’re better than that…a lot of stuff we can’t control. We control what we can. And I’m sure like the world’s going to see what this unit can do. Coach Riley even challenged us earlier this year. So we’re accepting this challenge. We’re just going to hit it full force as a unit.”

Rattler’s supporting cast is starting fresh with a new season in view. In Riley’s spread offensive attack, receivers are rotated and utilized in a variety of roles. Chemistry and comradery built during the offseason will translate to the field in the fall. An inch of separation or effective break inside can impact ballgames and make the difference between seven points and a field goal.

The team landed wideouts Mario Williams and Cody Jackson in the 2021 class to boost the unit. Both will compete for snaps with Marvin Mims, Theo Wease, Arkansas transfer Mike Woods, Austin Stogner, Drake Stoops,  Jeremiah Hall and Brayden Willis.

Mims is entering his sophomore year after becoming Rattler’s go-to target deep downfield last season. Theo Wease will have a large role again, especially after the dismissal of Trejan Bridges who was expected to be among Rattler’s favorite weapons over the middle of the field. Nightmare mismatch Austin Stogner also will have many passes thrown his way after emerging as Rattler’s reliable target on third downs last season.

Slot receiver Drake Stoops emerged at times throughout last season and is hoping to have his role continue to grow. With his new scholarship as validation, he will likely have a heavier workload in 2021 to accelerate the team’s short passing attack. Jeremiah Hall became a weapon in the screen game out of the backfield and Willis creates a threat in the passing game.

The talent is certainly there but the question is the execution. The Sooners have the capacity to be one of the nation’s most explosive offenses in 2021 with the firepower at Rattler and Riley’s disposal. In order to reach a coveted national championship, the receiving corps will have to step up.

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Oklahoma football notebook: Lincoln Riley, offensive players talk Tuesday

Lincoln Riley along with Jeremiah Hall, Erik Swenson and Theo Wease spoke to the media Tuesday ahead of the regular season finale.

Oklahoma is sitting at 7-2 after their defensive shutdown of Baylor last Saturday night 27-14.

Despite earning their sixth straight win and clinching a spot in the Big 12 title game, the Sooners didn’t make a move in the College Football Playoff rankings remaining at No. 11.

The lack in upward movement likely is a result in a very rare offensive struggle for Lincoln Riley and company against the Bears in the home finale. The offense simply wasn’t very effective, just doing enough to get by and get the win behind a fantastic defensive outing.

After the game, Lincoln Riley made it clear his displeasure with how the offense performed in that game. On Tuesday, he kept that frustration going in his weekly press conference.

Along with Riley, tight end/h-back Jeremiah Hall, offensive lineman Erik Swenson and wide receiver Theo Wease spoke to the media about the latest with the offense. Here is what they had to say.

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What Lincoln Riley, Spencer Rattler, offensive players said after 41-13 win over Oklahoma State

Lincoln Riley, Spencer Rattler, Theo Wease and Jeremiah Hall met with the media following Oklahoma’s blowout win over Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma dominated Bedlam tonight by a whopping final score of 41-13 over in-state rival Oklahoma State.

The Sooner offense got off a very fast start scoring on their first three possessions to lead 21-0 just a little over midway through the opening quarter. They would then slow down quite a bit, only scoring only six points on two field goals in the next two quarters combined, before putting together a couple of game-sealing touchdowns in the final frame.

Spencer Rattler was fantastic offering up one of his best outings of his young career going 17/24 passing for 301 yards and four touchdowns with no turnovers. He also ran for a touchdown making him just the fourth Oklahoma player in the last 20 years to throw for four scores and run for another.

After the game, Lincoln Riley, Spencer Rattler, Theo Wease and Jeremiah Hall met with the media to break down the game. Here is what they had to say.

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Oklahoma 2020 player card: No. 10 Theo Wease

Sooners Wire will be creating player cards for readers to be introduced to the 2020 roster. Here is the card for No. 10 Theo Wease.

There is a ton of momentum to having a 2020 college football season these days. No definite signs, yet, but the season would start three and a half months from now.

Sooners Wire will be creating player cards for readers to be introduced to the 2020 roster.

Here is the offensive No. 10 on Oklahoma’s roster.

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Name: Theo Wease

Number: No. 10

Year: Sophomore

Position: Wide receiver

Hometown: Allen, Texas

Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 201 pounds

Theo Wease might have more opportunity to step up than anyone on the Oklahoma offense.

A battle between him and fellow sophomore Jadon Haselwood could’ve been brewing at the X-receiver slot. But with Haselwood now sidelined with an offseason ACL tear, Wease will not only certainly see an increased role, he’ll need to step up even further than that.

A consensus five-star recruit out of Allen, Texas, Wease played in 13 of the 14 games last season, but saw limited production, catching eight passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

With the Sooners now in desperate need of playmakers, Wease will have plenty of opportunity to use his length and athleticism to create for Lincoln Riley.

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Oklahoma a consensus top-10 team in way-too-early rankings

Yet another star quarterback is out the door for Oklahoma, as well as defensive standouts Kenneth Murray and Neville Gallimore. But all hope is not lost, as the Sooners will be looking to host another high-powered offense next season.

Yet another star quarterback is out the door for Oklahoma, as well as defensive standouts Kenneth Murray and Neville Gallimore. But all hope is not lost, as the Sooners will be looking to host another high-powered offense next season.

Pro Football Focus has Oklahoma ranked No. 7 in the way-too-early Top 25 rankings for next season. Their primary reason for placing Oklahoma among the top teams in the nation will yet again be Lincoln Riley’s dangerous offense.

With Jalen Hurts gone to the NFL, Spencer Rattler will likely step in at quarterback for the Sooners. The highly touted freshman hailing from Pinnacle, Arizona will stand behind an offensive line that returns five of it’s six core members from last season, and should have plenty of talented receiving threats next season.

The five-star trio of Jadon Haselwood, Theo Wease and Trejan Bridges all have games under their belt now, and PFF has Charleston Rambo listed as a top 25 returning receiver in the country.

On top of their established talent, Oklahoma has taken on UCLA’s Theo Howard as a graduate-transfer. Howard saw 51 receptions last season, and is sure to see production with the Sooners.

If their passing game was enough, PFF has three of the Sooners running backs, Rhamondre Stevenson, Kennedy Brooks, and Trey Sermon, rated in the top 25 of the country next year. Brooks and Sermon round out the top-10 at No. 6 and 8 respectively, with Stevenson making the cut at No. 25.

Not much was said of the Sooner’s defense, but with Alex Grinch in his second year, and another patented Lincoln Riley offense full of weapons, the Sooners should be in good position for next season.