The composition of Oklahoma’s wide receiver unit has shifted significantly in recent weeks.
Injuries are an inevitable part of football due to the physicality of the sport. What sets teams apart is how they adapt and overcome these unforeseen setbacks, especially when key players are affected. Just three weeks before the season, Oklahoma was poised to field one of its strongest receiving groups in years. However, one week into the season, the Sooners are missing three top receivers, with a fourth still recovering from a knee injury sustained last year.
Jayden Gibson sustained a knee injury during training camp and is out for the season. Redshirt sophomore Nic Anderson, a top performer from last year, is sidelined with an undisclosed injury and missed the game against Temple. Senior Jalil Farooq fractured his foot on a 36-yard reception early in the Temple game and will be out for six-to-eight weeks.
At a Tuesday press conference, Brent Venables addressed the injury situation, providing a vague update on Anderson’s status, saying he’ll be “back sooner rather than later.”
With the absence of Gibson and Farooq, Oklahoma loses over 1,000 receiving yards from last season, and with Anderson and Andrel Anthony being eased back into play, two more key contributors are missing. Purdue transfer Deion Burks has stepped up as the primary target, but Venables emphasized the need for young receivers to rise to the occasion and prevent defenses from focusing solely on Burks.
Sophomore Jaquaize Pettaway, who can play both in the slot and outside, was specifically mentioned as a potential contributor. He played 11 snaps against Temple but did not record a catch, and last season he caught 11 passes for 70 yards across nine games.
Brent Venables on Jaquaize Pettaway: "He's fast, he's got a good catch radius. He's a really explosive player." Said Pettaway had a hamstring injury the last several weeks that kept him from being "full speed," but now he's "ready to go." #Sooners
— Mason Young (@Mason_Young_0) September 3, 2024
“He’s fast and has a good catch radius,” Venables said of Pettaway. “He’s an explosive player, but a hamstring injury in recent weeks has slowed him down.”
Venables also highlighted several young receivers, including true freshmen Zion Ragins, Ivan Carreon, KJ Daniels, and Zion Kearney. Both Ragins and Carreon saw playing time against Temple, each recording one catch.
With Farooq and Gibson sidelined, the Sooners will rely on these first- and second-year players. “They’re going to have to grow up quick,” Venables noted, with SEC play approaching. “I saw them improve against Temple,” he added, “but there were moments of inconsistency—whether due to mindset, fundamentals, or urgency. Still, I love this group. They’re coachable, talented, and bring size, speed, length, and toughness.”
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