Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Storylines to follow as training camp kicks off

By Chip Rouse

Oklahoma Defensive Back Jayden Rowe (27) goes through drills as the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU ) hold fall football camp outside The Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in Norman, Okla. (Alonzo Adams/For The Oklahoman).oufoot -- print jump
Oklahoma Defensive Back Jayden Rowe (27) goes through drills as the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU ) hold fall football camp outside The Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 in Norman, Okla. (Alonzo Adams/For The Oklahoman).oufoot -- print jump /
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Nov 26, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Jalil Farooq (3) runs the ball against Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive safety Darion Taylor-Demerson (25) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Jalil Farooq (3) runs the ball against Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive safety Darion Taylor-Demerson (25) in the first half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

OU has a deep receiver group but limited experience; who will step up?

Oklahoma lost over 50 percent of its production (both in receiving yards and receptions) from a year ago. Drake Stoops, in his sixth college season, is the old man of the group, and Jalil Farooq, the third leading pass catcher last season, returns for his junior season. Behind that, the Sooner wide receiving corps is a highly talented group on paper, but their numbers aren’t really meaningful because of limited playing time.

There is a lot of promising talk coming out of camp about the development of Redshirt freshman Nic Anderson, who missed much of last season because of injury. Sophomore Gavin Freeman showed flashes of stardom last season, and wide receivers coach Emmett Jones is looking for more consistent production from Freeman this season.

Jayden Gibson, at 6-foot-5, has the length the Sooners have been needing to add for competitive purposes, but he is still very unproven at this point in his career.

Michigan transfer Andrel Anthony could be the deep threat OU is losing after Marvin Mims’ jump to the NFL. And freshman Jaquaize Pettiway and Texas transfer Brenen Thompson are legitimate speed merchants that remind you a lot of Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.

The return of tight end Austin Stogner gives the Sooners a solid replacement for Brayden Willis, who was a big contributor for OU at the TE/H-back position the past two seasons.

OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) drops back to pass against Kansas State on Sept. 24, 2022, in Norman.
OU quarterback Dillon Gabriel (8) drops back to pass against Kansas State on Sept. 24, 2022, in Norman. /

Can Dillon Gabriel be even better in 2023 than he was in 2022?

There is a lot to be said for having a veteran starting quarterback. Sooner QB Dillon Gabriel enters his fifth season and second at OU in 2023. Gabriel had a good season a year ago — second best in the Big 12 in passing yardage and the No. 1 returning Big 12 quarterback in passing efficiency.

He is an effective runner as well, gaining 315 yards on the ground and six touchdowns last season.

Gabriel has been working on improving his accuracy, especially on deep throws, and it helps greatly that he has two full seasons now in offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby’s offense (in addition to last season, Lebby was Gabriel’s OC when he was at UCF in the QB’s freshman season in 2019.

Gabriel missed a game and a half last season after sustaining a hard hit to the head in a game against TCU. Although OU’s backup QB situation is much better this season with five-star prospect and2022 National Gatorade Player of the Year Jackson Arnold in the role, the Sooners still need a healthy Gabriel for the full season.

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