When the ball begins the 2024 edition of the Red River Showdown, nobody will feel sorry for the Oklahoma Sooners injury situation at wide receiver. Not the broadcast crew, not the officials, and certainly not the Texas Longhorns.
It was revealed on Thursday that leading receiver Deion Burks will miss Oklahoma’s matchup with No. 1 Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
It’s put-up time.
The Sooners have talented depth on the roster. Guys like Brenen Thompson, J.J. Hester, and Jaquaize Pettaway have been thrust into roles they weren’t necessarily expected to hold when the team reported for fall camp. They’ve been baptized by fire through the first five games of the season and have had some good moments.
There’s a reason they were considered blue-chip prospects coming out of high school. There’s talent to be impactful playmakers at the Power Four level, and the Sooners need them to realize that potential on Saturday in the Cotton Bowl.
Brenen Thompson has been solid this season, showing off his route-running ability. He’s played tough despite his size. Thompson has fantastic speed, capable of taking the top off of the defense. J.J. Hester was the talk of fall camp. It’s taken him a minute to get his feet under him, but he came through with a couple of big catches against Auburn to help the Sooners win the game. When the Sooners found some offensive success in the fourth quarter against Tennessee, it was Jaquaize Pettaway who helped spark the passing attack.
Those guys, plus the true freshmen trio of Zion Ragins, Zion Kearney, and Ivan Carreon, have to emerge as reliable options in the passing game. As the running game has struggled to get going through the first five games of the season, the Sooners need their pass catchers to step up.
True freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. is a special talent. He has the playmaking ability and intangibles to lead the Sooners, but he can’t do it all alone. Hawkins needs his wide receiver trio to step up.
The Red River Showdown is a game where legends are born. Careers have been defined by this game.
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