Oklahoma football: Can OU dispel enough concerns to legitimize a 2020 title run?
By Chip Rouse
Who will step up as OU’s go-to receiver and next playmaker?
Since Lincoln Riley has been in charge of the Oklahoma offense, the Sooners have been blessed with some of the best big-play receivers in college football. Baker Mayfield had Dede Westbrook and Hollywood Brown, Kyler Murray had Brown and tight-end Mark Andrews as go-to receivers, and Jalen Hurts had CeeDee Lamb. All those guys are now in the NFL. Who will be the big-play threat and playmaker for Spencer Rattler?
This and the QB question could be the easiest concern to put to rest. The Sooner receiving corps is still very young but remains extremely talented. Redshirt junior Charleston Rambo is the most experienced of the returning receivers and was the team’s second leading pass catcher last season. OU added Theo Howard from UCLA and Obi Obialo from Marshall as graduate transfers to help bolster the wide-receiver group, but Howard is recovering from an Achilles injury and is expected to miss the start of the season.
Jadon Hasselwood was the No. 1 receiver in the 2019 national class and one of three top-five receivers who were in OU’s 2019 recruiting class. His availability in the fall is also uncertain after tearing his ACL prior to the start of spring practice this year.
Sophomores Theo Wease, Trajan Bridges and Aaron Stogner were the other top receivers in that 2019 recruiting class. Bridges will still be out, however, with a suspension for the first five games as a carryover from the 2019 season.
Other players who could surprise and step up as big contributors in the receiving room this fall are redshirt sophomore Drake Stoops, son of former coach Bob Stoops, and true freshman Marvin Mims.