Oklahoma football: D.J. Graham the X-factor in wide-open Sooner receiver corps

While the general assessment by those in the know in college football is that the Oklahoma football will be better in 2023 than it was in a highly disappointing 2023 season, it isn’t without some concerns.

One of those concerns is at the wide receiver position. The Sooners return only two receivers, Jahlil Farooq and Drake Stoops, who caught more than three passes last season. Beyond those two, the receivers who return from the 2022 roster had a combined five catches a year ago.

Outside of Stoops and Farooq, who were OU’s third- and fourth-leading receivers last season, Oklahoma has plenty of talent and depth at the position, but not a lot of measurables or game experience to draw from.

The junior Farooq is in line to take over the lead receiver role that has been held the past three seasons by Marvin Mims, now a member of the Denver Broncos in the NFL. Stoops, who will be entering his fifth season in a Sooner uniform is one of the team leaders and Mr. Dependable when it comes to running routes and hauling in passes. But beyond that there is a giant question mark as to which of the other receivers on the 2023 roster will step up and play prime contributing roles in the Oklahoma offense this coming season.

A couple of sophomore receivers, Jayden Gibson and Nic Anderson, were both four-star prospects who give the Sooners a size factor (both are 6-foot-4) they haven’t had before at the position. A pair of incoming transfers, Andrel Anthony from Michigan and a spring late-comer Brenen Thompson from Texas, could also be prime additions.

But there is someone else who has played in 28 games for OU, including 12 starts, but not as a receiver, who could be the X-factor in the Sooner receiving corps this season. Senior D.J. Graham II was recruited to Oklahoma as a wide receiver but was converted to defensive back his freshman season in the pandemic-altered 2020 season.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do after every season of my college career,” Graham said about the position switch back to the offensive side of the ball during the Sooners’ 2023 spring practice schedule.

“This is what I want to do. This has always been my dream. It’s better late than never,” he said.

The Ft. Worth, Texas, native has always had great hands. Sooner fans will recall the highlight-reel. one-handed interception he had against Nebraska in 2021.

Graham played receiver in high school, where he totaled over 2,000 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. He put on display in the spring game some of what Sooner fans can expect to see from him in the fall. He caught two passes for a game-high 74 yards in the spring game.

Oklahoma wide receiver coach Emmett Jones knows what Graham can do at the receiver position. He recruited him in high school when Jones was an assistant coach at Kansas.

Graham’s three seasons in the Sooner secondary could actually help him as he transitions to the full-time role he always thought he would play at the college level.