Oklahoma football: Pivotal season coming up for Charleston Rambo

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Charleston Rambo #14 of the Oklahoma Sooners completes the catch for touchdown in the third quarter during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 29: Charleston Rambo #14 of the Oklahoma Sooners completes the catch for touchdown in the third quarter during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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After waiting in the wings behind All American Marquise Brown, Charleston Rambo‘s time has come.

The redshirt sophomore came to Oklahoma football surrounded by hype as the No. 16 player in the state of Texas according to Rivals.com he chose the Sooners over offers from Texas, Florida, Notre Dame and a host of other schools.

Unfortunately for Rambo, he wasn’t as quick to develop as CeeDee Lamb, the other blue-chip receiver from his class. That led to his redshirting as a freshman and drawing spot duty last year.

Rambo was forced into service down the stretch after an injury to Marquise Brown and he started to show off the skill set that had college coaches drooling back when he was at Cedar Hill High School. He caught a 49-yard touchdown pass against Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal and finished the game with three catches for 76 yards, more than doubling his season receiving yardage totals.

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He enters the 2019 season with a prime opportunity to take over the staring job opposite Lamb, but he’ll have to work hard to hold off challenges from what some believe to be the most talented freshman wide receiver class ever assembled with Theo Wease, Jadon Haselwood and Trejan Bridges all making a case for being a starter once the season begins. All three have the added benefit of participating in spring practice.

Stiff competition should be a solid motivator for Rambo, who will have to work hard to keep from being lost in the shuffle in the Sooners’ offense and this season will likely decide whether he becomes the star many believed he would be when he came to Norman or relegated to role-player status.