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Oklahoma Football Rewind: Takeaways in Savoring Sooners Red River Victory

By Chip Rouse

Oct 8, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) waves a flag after the game against the Texas Longhorns at Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma won 45-40. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) waves a flag after the game against the Texas Longhorns at Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma won 45-40. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 8, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Dede Westbrook (11) runs for a touchdown after making a catch in the third quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma won 45-40. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Dede Westbrook (11) runs for a touchdown after making a catch in the third quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma won 45-40. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Dede Westbrook Is Rounding Into the Big-Play Receiver the Sooners Expected

Before the month of October, wide receiver Dede Westbrook had eclipsed 100 receiving yards just once in a single game as an Oklahoma Sooner and had never caught more than six passes in a game.

That all changed in Oklahoma’s fourth game this season at TCU, and reached a career high and Oklahoma all-time record in the win over Texas, when Westbrook hauled in 10 Baker Mayfield passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns.

The junior-college recruit from Blinn Community College in Brenham, Texas, averaged 23 yards per catch in the annual Red River Showdown game on Saturday, including touchdown catches of 71, 47 and 42 yards.

A year ago, Westbrook played in the shadow of All-Big 12 receiver Sterling Shepard, who finished No. 2 on the Oklahoma career receiving list and is now playing in the National Football League, but his performance earned him Big 12 honors as Offensive Newcomer of the Year.

In his first season at Oklahoma in 2015, Westbrook caught 46 passes, second most on the team behind Shepard and averaged 16.3 yards per catch. He caught only four touchdowns a year ago, a number he almost equaled in a single game on Saturday against Texas. He has five touchdown receptions through five games this season.

The Sooner coaches were looking for Westbrook to step into the role of lead receiver this season, and as of Saturday, it appears he has arrived. And that is very good news for the Oklahoma Air Raid attack.

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