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USA Today
19-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
John Mateer shares excitement about playing with Deion Burks
The wide receiver position has not seen a lot of its way in the last year and a half at the University of Oklahoma. Heading into 2024, it was arguably the deepest position on the roster. However, injuries decimated the wide receiver room, and it led to an offense that struggled week in and week out to find any consistency in the passing game. Deion Burks made it four games before getting injured against the Tennessee Volunteers. In his first three games of the season, Burks recorded 22 receptions for 169 yards and three touchdowns. But the injury in the Tennessee loss kept him out until the second-to-last game of the season against Missouri. In the loss to the Tigers, Burks suffered a concussion that would keep him out of the LSU game to close out the season and the Sooners held him out of the Armed Forces Bowl loss to Navy. But in limited time, Burks showed off the ability to get open, especially in the red zone. His speed will create problems for defenses. He has a chance to be a problem in offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle's system this season. The Oklahoma Sooners need a healthy Deion Burks to have a resurgent season. He was one of the more sought-after players in the 2024 transfer portal and had a huge spring game last year. Now, it's time for that potential to come to fruition. At SEC media days, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer spoke about where Burks is at ahead of the 2025 season. "I'm super proud of Deion," Mateer said. "He had a rough year last year, on and off the field. But he's super promising. He cares a lot about football and he cares a lot about the Sooners." Though he didn't have the production he would have liked last year, Burks had the opportunity to go off to the NFL, or even leave in the transfer portal like Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony, Jalil Farroq, J.J. Hester, or Brenen Thompson did. But Burks opted to return to the Sooners for the 2025 season. But Burks is now a leader for a completely remade wide receiver group. The Sooners will need his veteran presence as they welcomed seven new wide receivers this offseason and had four true freshmen returning from the 2024 season. Burks is the veteran presence in the group. The talent is there. The attitude and the effort are there. He just needs to stay healthy to realize the potential that could put Burks among the top wide receivers selected in the 2026 NFL draft. "I'm super happy for him and proud of him, just where he's came with his body and his mind," Mateer continued. "He knows the game of football a lot better this year than he did last year. Super proud of him. I'm real excited to play with him." The Sooners are hoping for two of their wide receivers, Javonnie Gibson and Jayden Gibson, to return for the start of the 2025 season. But it's Burks who has the biggest opportunity to thrive in Arbuckle's spread-out passing attack. His quickness, speed, and ability to create after the catch will be a problem against the SEC. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 college football uniform rankings
College football teams have multiple uniforms to choose from thanks to deals with all sorts of athletic companies. For this exercise we will attempt to stick to the basics -- whatever that is at Oregon -- to rank the Top 25 'fits for college programs. Some are iconic and have stood the test of time. Others mesh the perfect look of colors and design. Check out a different Top 25 as college football season gets closer for 2025. College football teams have multiple uniforms to choose from thanks to deals with all sorts of athletic companies. For this exercise we will attempt to stick to the basics -- whatever that is at Oregon -- to rank the Top 25 'fits for college programs. Some are iconic and have stood the test of time. Others mesh the perfect look of colors and design. Check out a different Top 25 as college football season gets closer for 2025. 25. Oregon State Beavers Oregon State Beavers place kicker Everett Hayes makes a game-winning, 54-yard field goal. 24. UCLA Bruins UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Jay Toia tangles with Fresno State Bulldogs offensive lineman Toreon Penright. 23. Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee offensive lineman Cooper Mays, and wide receiver Bru McCoy surround running back Dylan Sampson. 22. SMU Mustangs Southern Methodist Mustangs offensive lineman Caleb Johnson and quarterback Preston Stone in action. 21. Penn State Nittany Lions Penn State cornerback Audavion Collins (2) takes a moment in the north end zone. 20. Georgia Bulldogs Georgia Bulldogs running back Cash Jones celebrates after scoring a touchdown. Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Ryan Williams makes a circus catch. 18. Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma coach Brent Venables locks arms with players before the Armed Forces Bowl football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Navy Midshipmen at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. Navy won 21-20. 17. Clemson Tigers Tristan Smith of the Clemson Tigers warms up before the spring game. 16. Boston College Eagles Boston College Eagles' Liam Connor kicks an extra point. 15. North Texas Mean Green North Texas Mean Green kicker Kali Nguma kicks a field goal against the Army Black Knights. 14. Pitt Panthers Pittsburgh Panthers Phil Jurkovec prepares to fire the ball downfield. 13. Kansas Jayhawks The Kansas Jayhawks take the field. 12. Kent State Golden Flashes Kent State defensive end Kameron Olds and linebacker Rocco Nicholl celebrate. 11. Oregon Ducks Oregon quarterback Bo Nix throws a pass. Boise State Broncos running back Ashton Jeanty during the second half against the Oregon State Beavers. 9. Miami Hurricanes Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Xavier Restrepo against the Virginia Tech Hokies 8. San Diego State Aztecs San Diego State Aztecs players walk out onto the field. 7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receivers Xavier Southall and Alex Whitman celebrate during the Blue-Gold game 6. Missouri Tigers Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook runs the ball. 5. Texas Longhorns Texas Longhorns offensive linemen Cole Hutson and Kelvin Banks Jr. (78) in action. 4. Ohio State Buckeyes Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins and quarterback Will Howard celebrate. 3. Michigan Wolverines Michigan Wolverines running back Jordan Marshall pushes off on Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Jeremiah Alexander. 2. Florida State Seminoles The Florida State Seminoles hosted the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. 1. LSU Tigers LSU Tigers wide receiver CJ Daniels reacts after missing a pass. This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Ranking the best college football uniforms for the 2025 season
USA Today
06-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN thinks this Oklahoma player could be a sleeper this year
The Oklahoma Sooners are in desperate need of a bounce-back campaign in 2025. A dismal offensive showing in OU's first season in the SEC led to a 6-7 overall record and a 2-6 mark in conference play. One of the many reasons that Oklahoma had so much trouble moving the ball on offense was the wide receiver play. OU's top five projected receivers missed all or most of the 2024 season due to injury. That forced backups and true freshmen to step into roles they weren't ready for, and the Oklahoma passing game crumbled. Wide receiver certainly wasn't the only problem on an offense full of them, but it's an area that has to improve along with the rest of the offense in 2025. ESPN believes there's a player at this position on the Sooners roster who isa bit under the radar that can help OU right the ship. A handful of ESPN's college football writers identified sleeper players for each of their preseason top 25 teams. For Oklahoma, who came in at No. 25 in the rankings, they chose sophomore wide receiver Zion Kearney. The Sooners were besieged with injuries at the receiver position last season, and some of their more talented pass catchers hit the transfer portal, including Nic Anderson. With new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and his Air Raid offense coming to Norman, that means Oklahoma will utilize even more receivers. Kearney, a true sophomore, has a chance to make a big jump after playing as a backup in 11 games as a freshman. He has the size (6-1, 207 pounds) and speed (4.28 40-yard dash in high school) to be a staple in the Sooners' passing game, especially with John Mateer stepping in at quarterback. - Chris Low, ESPN. Kearney wasn't ready to play the kind of snaps he did in 2024, but all of that experience is a good learning opportunity for him. The Sooners and wide receivers coach Emmett Jones remade the position group in the transfer portal this offseason, and Kearney was one of a handful of players who decided to stick around in Norman. Kearney also had a nice performance in OU's Armed Forces Bowl loss against Navy. He posted his most receiving yards of the season and his only career touchdown on a scramble drill play from Michael Hawkins Jr. He also managed four catches against Texas back in October. With a lot of question marks and some lingering injury concerns for OU's wide receiver group heading into fall camp, Kearney could be a surprise player to watch in his second season as a Sooner. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
USA Today
30-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Where did Phil Steele pick Oklahoma to finish in the SEC?
Phil Steele, the magazine publisher long considered one of the definitive voices in college football prognostication, released his predicted SEC standings over the weekend. Oklahoma looks to be in good shape. The Sooners were tabbed to finish in a tie for fourth in the Southeastern Conference, Steele projected, alongside LSU and Texas A&M. OU finished the 2024 in a tie for 13th with a 2-6 league record and a 6-7 record overall after losing to Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl. One of the biggest reasons for Oklahoma's predicted resurgence is a new-look offense. Head coach Brent Venables brought in offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State. Arbuckle was a major factor in the Sooners landing quarterback John Mateer from the Cougars, as well. Mateer is considered one of the five best quarterbacks in the country. OU also picked up former first-team All-Pac 12 selection Jadyn Ott from California-Berkeley to serve as the team's primary running back. Oklahoma's schedule is less than daunting than most in the SEC, too. The Sooners get their toughest teams on the road in Tennessee and Alabama, plus have just one other true road game in league play: at South Carolina on October 18. Steele picked Alabama second, Tennessee in a tie for seventh and South Carolina in a tie for 10th. OU's only other SEC game away from Norman comes October 11 against Texas, picked second by Steele, in the Red River Rivalry in Dallas. The Sooners host Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, and Missouri in Norman. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
30-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners 2025 preview: Wide receivers poised for a big season
After the Oklahoma Sooners were projected to have one of the best wide receiver units in the SEC last year, injuries completely derailed all of OU's best-laid plans. The top five WRs who were projected to get the most snaps and have the biggest impact last year all missed most or all of the 2024 season. Of those five players, Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony and Jalil Farooq all transferred elsewhere this offseason, while Deion Burks and Jayden Gibson stayed put in Norman. The players that were forced to step up couldn't fill those big shoes, and plenty of them have moved on as well. Backups like Brenen Thompson, J.J. Hester, and Jaquaize Pettaway hit the portal to go elsewhere. Needless to say, wide receivers coach Emmett Jones' room needed a clean bill of health and a rebuild. The Sooners brought in plenty of new faces at WR in the portal, but how will they fit in along with the returners on the depth chart come late-August? That's what we'll attempt to unpack today. In new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle's Air Raid offense, great wide receiver play will be paramount. Sooner fans are familiar with the Air Raid, and with seeing four, or even five wideouts on the field at the same time. However, there will also be the presence of the tight end position when the Sooners take the field this fall, so we'll only include three WRs on the depth chart to begin the season. Quarterback Running Back Offensive Line Tight End X-Wide Receiver Starter: Javonnie Gibson Javonnie Gibson is one of Jones' newcomers via the portal in 2025. Of the portal additions, he was the one who popped the most in spring football, before he broke his leg late in the spring. If he's healthy when the season begins, he probably did enough in his abbreviated spring to earn the starting X-WR spot. Backups: JerMichael Carter, Zion Kearney JerMichael Carter was a late offseason portal add for the coaching staff after Gibson broke his leg. He also provides size in the passing game. Zion Kearney returns for his sophomore season after getting extended playing time in 2024. With Gibson's status still up in the air, there are a lot of directions Jones could go at X-WR. Sophomore Ivan Carreon is another name to watch after a nice Armed Forces Bowl performance against Navy, as is true freshman Manny Choice. Z-Wide Receiver Starter: Jayden Gibson Jayden Gibson didn't play at all last year due to injury. If he's healthy this season, he could have a significant impact for the Sooners. He got plenty of run in this spot in 2023 after Andrel Anthony got hurt, and he played well down the stretch of OU's 10-win season. Here's hoping both Gibsons are ready to go for Week 1 Backups: Elijah Thomas, Keontez Lewis Elijah Thomas is a true freshman from the 2025 recruiting class who has turned heads since arriving on campus. The Sooners got burned when relying on first-year players a season ago, so they hope Thomas is different. Keontez Lewis is another portal addition that will push for playing time, especially if there are injuries to other wide receivers. Once again, it's hard to tell what direction Jones goes here, considering the injury status of Gibson. Keep your eye on Josiah Martin and Zion Ragins, who both bring plenty of speed to the field. Slot Wide Receiver Starter: Deion Burks Deion Burks is the closest thing OU has to a lock at wide receiver. If he's healthy, he'll be one of the featured targets for Arbuckle's system. He was Oklahoma's best wide receiver last season. Unfortunately, he didn't play much due to injury. He came back for one more shot to impress NFL scouts, but to do that, you have to be on the field, not on the sidelines. Backups: Isaiah Sategna, Jacob Jordan Isaiah Sategna is another portal addition that Jones brought in this offseason. He'll help out in the return game and offers another speedy option when Burks is off the field. Jacob Jordan was one of the few players the Sooners had on the field last year who could get open with any consistency. Guys like that typically find their way into the action. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
