Oklahoma vs. Tulsa: Sooners Players of the Game

Sep 14, 2013; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Sterling Shepard (3) catches a touchdown pass past Tulsa Golden Hurricane defensive back Dwight Dobbins (9)during the game at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Sterling Shepard

There were a lot of second generation stars on the field today, from OU backup quarterback Kendall Thompson on the OU sidelines to Tulsa running back Trey Watts. However, Sooners wide receiver Sterling Shepard was the biggest beneficiary to the emergence of Blake Bell in this game.

For two games, the Sooners passing offense has been absent, and suddenly with Bell under center, it exploded. Shepard finished the game as the Sooners’ leading receiver with eight receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns, after only recording three receptions for 23 yards in the first two games.

He was routinely in the right place and his run after catch was fantastic. While Jaz Reynolds also made a huge return in this game, Durron Neal made his case for more playing time, and Jalen Saunders continued to me Mr. Reliable, it was Shepard who was the star.

“I grabbed him after the game and said, ‘I’m extremely proud of you.’ I think it’s a great day for him to play that way with a picture of him and his dad on the cover of the game day (program),” Josh Heupel said. “I think it was a big day for him. It meant a lot.”