Position Preview: Wide Receivers

NORMAN — In the first year under offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, the Oklahoma receivers should see plenty of action. Riley spent the last four years at East Carolina and helped the Pirates finish third in the country last season with 371.9 passing yards per game. An influx of young talent, coupled with returning star power, should have the Sooner receivers firing on all cylinders in 2015.

The Oklahoma wideouts are led by fan favorite and All-America candidate Sterling Shepard. The 5-10 senior from Oklahoma City boasts 147 career receptions, good for ninth most in program history, and 2,194 career yards, eighth most by a Sooner.

Striker fall camp

Senior Sterling Shepard averaged 19.0 yards per reception in 2014.

Shepard was on a blistering pace in 2014 before he was slowed by a groin injury. He hauled in seven catches for 215 yards against TCU on Oct. 4, just two yards shy of the single-game school record, and followed that up by tying the single-game school standard with 15 receptions for 197 yards just two weeks later against Kansas State.

“I think his passion to play the game, and how badly he wants to compete, make him special,” assistant head coach and inside receivers coach Cale Gundy said. “When he gets between the lines, and on gamedays, he has a fire inside of him that he wants to be great.”

Despite his smaller stature, Shepard has made a name for himself as an elite big-play threat, as evidenced by his 19.0 yards per catch in 2014.

“He plays much much bigger than he is on the field,” Gundy said. “He attacks the ball better than anyone I have been around.”

TOBY'S TAKE

rowland

I think some have forgotten just how special Sterling Shepard was before his injury last season. He had 177 yards against Tulsa. Went for 215 yards at TCU. Fifteen catches and 197 yards versus Kansas State. More than 100 yards receiving against Tennessee and West Virginia. He wasn't just good, he was Biletnikoff good. A healthy Shepard coupled with juco All-American Dede Westbrook, who excited Sooner fans in the spring, could give OU an electric one-two punch at wideout. Westbrook's quickness and elusiveness have drawn comparisons to former Sooner Jalen Saunders. But Westbrook also has the size at 6'0” to make plays in traffic across the middle.

One of the most intriguing battles of the fall, however, is to be Shepard and Westbrook's running mate. Redshirt freshman tight end Mark Andrews could provide size and a red zone threat. Six-foot-five sophomore Jeffery Mead has drawn praise and has the height to be another valuable weapon around the goal line. Senior Durron Neal has the most experience and his speed could be the perfect complement to take advantage of defenses that are preoccupied with trying to contain Sterling and Dede. True freshmen A.D. Miller, John Humphrey and Dahu Green are all possibilities to have an immediate impact as well.

Listen to OU play-by-play announcer Toby Rowland weekday mornings from 6-9 a.m. on the "T-Row in the Morning Show" on KREF 98.5 FM and 1400 AM.

Oklahoma also returns veteran Durron Neal. The St. Louis, Mo., native broke out as a junior, starting all 13 games for OU and notching 42 catches for 513 yards. Entering the second full week of fall camp, the Sooner coaches are hopeful Neal can build on his junior campaign.

“Durron has played well this camp,” outside receivers coach Dennis Simmons said. “The way this system is set up it gives all the kids a chance to showcase their talent so I am excited for that.”

A name that has had Sooner fans buzzing this summer is Dede Westbrook. A 6-1 junior from Brenham, Texas, Westbrook transferred from Blinn College and showed flashes of electric speed in OU's 2015 spring game. Westbrook was rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and Scout, and was listed as the No. 12 juco player in the nation by ESPN. OU will look to get the ball in his hands early and often this season.

“Dede is extremely fast, and he is quick, as well,” Gundy said. “He does a great job of attacking and making plays.”

A host of talented youngsters will look to contribute this season. Sophomore Michiah Quick hauled in 25 balls last year for a total of 237 yards. Quick stood out in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl with a team-leading seven receptions for 46 yards. Fellow sophomore Jeffery Mead, a former four-star recruit, flashed his skills in the spring game as well, leading the Sooners with four catches for 93 yards. Perhaps more importantly, Mead showed off the benefits of his 6-5 frame with an impressive one-handed, leaping catch in double coverage.

Continuing the theme of size, redshirt freshman Mark Andrews, listed at 6-6, should play a key role in the Sooners' passing game. After redshirting last season, Andrews caught two balls for 56 yards in the spring game and has continued his progression through the summer. Look for him to cause matchup problems for opposing defenses all season.

“Nowadays, you have to win one-on-one,” Gundy explained. “You have to be a better route runner and be faster than the guy covering you. Whether you are 6-4, 240, or 5-8, 150, you have to be able to win one-on-one. Those guys are big-body guys that should be able to use their size and strength, but most of all they have to be able to separate from people with their speed.”

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Freshman Dahu Green stretches for a grab during fall camp. Green caught 58 passes for 961 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior at Westmoore High School last year.

Also drawing rave reviews so far in camp are a pair of talented freshmen. Dahu Green and A.D. Miller, both three-star recruits, have both been seeing plenty of passes come their way so far.

“They are good players,” Gundy said. “They are still very young but they are very talented. The thing that separates them is they have great feet and speed. You typically don't see guys at that size that can run that well.”

Listed at 6-5, Green was ranked as the No. 49 wide receiver by Rivals. The Oklahoma City native hauled in 58 catches for 961 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior at Westmoore High School last season.

At 6-3, Miller also boasts great size. Hailing from Dallas, Miller was rated as the No. 74 wideout and posted 63 grabs for 1,187 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior at Bishop Dunne High School last season.

Players Mentioned

Mark Andrews

John Humphrey

Jeffery Mead

Jeffery Mead

A.D. Miller

Durron Neal

Durron Neal

Michiah Quick

Michiah Quick

Sterling Shepard

Sterling Shepard

Dede Westbrook

Dede Westbrook

Dede Westbrook

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