By John Shinn
Two words rarely associated with sophomores are seasoned and veteran. The mere fact players two years out of high school could fit those descriptions in the college football realm is almost laughable.
However, Oklahoma isn’t laughing when it looks at its group of second-year receivers who are anything but second rate.
“A guy like Juaquin Iglesias and Malcolm Kelly, those two guys have great ability,” OU coach Bob Stoops said, “and they have shown you the willingness to work and to make themselves really good.”
Kelly (471), Iglesias (290) and Manuel Johnson (170) combined for 43 percent of the Sooners receiving yards last season, and they did it as true freshmen.
The Sooner receivers are enthused about what they can do after a full year in the system.
“The evolution of a receiver has two phases,” passing game coordinator Kevin Sumlin said. “The first phase is what to do. You don’t have any time to worry about how to do it. The second phase is how to do it and that comes with experience.”
The trio has reached the second phase.
OU always believed the group had a chance to be special. From the day practice began in 2005, the Sooner coaching staff saw similar traits to some of the better receivers they’d coached.
But there was a difference.
Kelly, who stands 6-foot-4, provides a deep threat the Sooners have rarely possessed. He can win jump balls with defensive backs on a regular basis.
He showed a knack for it late last season and will have to do a lot more of it this season.
“I think I am more of a down-the-field playmaker type guy,” Kelly said. “I have gotten up to 215 so I guess if I catch a little hitch it is going to be a little harder to take me down.”
Iglesias and Johnson, who has been slowed by an ankle injury, are more possession-type receivers. But both are extremely fast and can make things happen in the open field.
They should give offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and quarterback Paul Thompson a wide variety of options.
“We knew from Day 1 they were playmakers,” Thompson said, “but now they’re bigger, they’re in better shape and they’re not as wide-eyed as they were last year.”
But the youth-laden trend at wide receiver doesn’t stop with Kelly, Iglesias and Johnson.
Behind them on the depth chart are sophomore Fred Strong and true freshmen Adron Tennell and Brandon Caleb.
Strong added 15 pounds in the offseason and now weighs just a shade under 200. He’s put himself in a position to become a part of the offense.
The same can be said about Tennell and Caleb. Both have had impressive preseasons and could see action when the Sooners open the season against Alabama-Birmingham at 6 p.m. Saturday at Owen Field.
“They are right in the thick of it,” Sumlin said. “They are right in the middle of it, especially Adron Tennell. I think he has made plays every day. You know he will make some mistakes, but I think he is coming on pretty well. Brandon Caleb has practiced better recently. It is the kind of thing with freshmen and it’s kind of funny; they have to come out and as you start to add more stuff they get a little bit overloaded. And instead of playing, they start thinking a bunch.”
Guessing when the change will occur is a crapshoot. It took last year’s freshmen a while before the light went on and stayed on.
When it happens, though, it gives defenses fits. That’s what OU receivers believe will happen this season and beyond.
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
