Just one catch is showing OU freshman Elijah Thomas is worthy of the hype

It's just one catch leaked out of the Oklahoma Sooners' fall camp, but it showed why there's been so much hype and excitement for freshman wide receiver Elijah Thomas.

Local media attended OU's practice on Monday morning, and nearly all of them posted a video of Thomas' impressive grab during a one-on-one drill against fellow freshman Maliek Hawkins. It was just what Sooner Nation wants to see come from fall camp after OU's receivers struggled through injuries so much last season. And there were plenty of angles to awe about.

Freshman WR Elijah Thomas makes incredible catch during Sooners' fall camp

Thomas was a four-star recruit in the most recent 2025 signing class out of in-state Checotah High School, where Thomas shined at multiple positions. As a receiver last season, Thomas caught 72 passes for 1,803 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also sometimes lined up at running back, rushing for 406 yards and 10 scores on 63 carries while regularly hurdling defenders.

Defensively, Thomas also lined up all over the place, primarily playing safety, while even crawling up as a linebacker. He tallied 82 tackles, eight TFLs, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He also returned a kickoff for a 99-yard TD on special teams.

And to further his freak athleticism, Thomas was also a standout on the basketball court and as a sophomore won a state title in the long jump.

Even OU quarterback John Mateer referred to Thomas as "an athletic freak" at SEC Media Days, and that was even before fall camp.

Outside of Deion Burks, the Sooners are wide open at receiver with a whole new crop of players. OU hasn't even been in fall camp for a week yet, and Thomas is already impressing, so he could emerge as a major contributor in the Sooners' passing game as a freshman this season.

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