Top Five Oklahoma Sooners Wide Receivers of the BCS Era

5. Jalen Saunders (2012-2013)

Nov 7, 2013; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners receiver Jalen Saunders (8) returns a kick-off in the second quarter against Baylor Bears defender Darius Jones (7) at Floyd Casey Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Stats: 1,558 receiving yards, 11 receiving touchdowns, 25 punt returns, 396 punt return yards, three punt returns for touchdowns

Accomplishments: 2014 Sugar Bowl Champion, 2012 Big 12 Champion, 2013 All-Big Second Team

Another gem who transferred to OU, Saunders saved the Sooners on plenty of occasions.

His athleticism and ability to work in open space was a blessing with a developing quarterback in 2013. Whether it was in the passing game or punt return game, Saunders was a playmaker.

In two seasons, Saunders was a favorite receiving option. His most notable performances came in his last two outings as a Sooner.

In the 2013 Bedlam game, Saunders returned a punt 64 yards for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter, which tied the game at 7. This came a year after Saunder returned a punt 81 yards for a touchdown in the 2012 Bedlam contest.

However, Saunders was not finished with 2013 Bedlam. With the game clock winding down and OU on the brink of losing to Oklahoma State, Blake Bell found Saunders in the end zone to win the game and send the team to the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Saunders recorded two huge touchdown receptions in a winning effort over the Crimson Tide.

While you could put a lot of players at this spot, Saunders cracked the Top 5 for his value. You could make a case for him as OU’s most valuable player in 2013, because without him, OU’s season could have looked much different and way worse.

He was labeled as “undersized” by many, but he came up huge for Oklahoma on a consistent basis and was the first Sooner taken in the 2014 NFL Draft. Saunders was taken with the 104th overall pick to the New York Jets.

Here are his career highlights: