Since 2019, only two Oklahoma Sooners have surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark: CeeDee Lamb in 2019 and Marvin Mims in 2022. Drake Stoops nearly reached this milestone in 2023 with 962 yards during his breakout season.
Stoops fell short due to standout performances from Andrel Anthony, Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq, and Jayden Gibson. Anthony, in particular, was on track to surpass 1,000 yards, having gained 419 yards in just six games, and would have remained a key player in the passing game.
Looking ahead to 2024, Oklahoma’s depth at receiver could again prevent any one player from reaching 1,000 yards. The Sooners have several big-play threats, including Anderson, Burks, Gibson, Anthony, Brenan Thompson, and Jaquaize Pettaway. Gibson and Anderson each averaged over 20 yards per reception in 2023.
With an abundance of talent, Seth Littrell, Emmitt Jones, and Jackson Arnold have plenty of options to work with. Most analysts, including those projecting the depth chart, expect Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson, and Deion Burks to start the season at wide receiver, with Burks primarily in the slot. Jayden Gibson is likely to be the fourth receiver. This group has the potential to excel at all levels of the passing game and to make explosive plays.
Deion Burks appears to be the most likely to exceed 1,000 yards in 2024. His impressive performance in the spring game demonstrated his ability to create big plays from short to intermediate routes, capitalizing on poor coverage or missed assignments. With Arnold’s strong arm, defenses will need to be wary of Burks.
Burks is a strong candidate to receive enough targets to surpass 1,000 yards, even if he doesn’t match the 107 targets Drake Stoops received in 2023. His knack for making big plays both downfield and after the catch will give him plenty of opportunities for significant yardage.
If no Sooners receiver reaches 1,000 yards this year, it will likely be due to the offense spreading the ball around, resulting in several players putting up impressive numbers.
