Completed Event: Football versus Illinois State on August 30, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 3
Final
Football
35
vs Illinois State
3
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sideline to Sideline: Jeffery Mead
April 06, 2016 | Football
W
ith the graduation of standouts Sterling Shepard and Durron Neal, the 2016 Sooners will need to replace 130 receptions, 1,847 yards and 14 touchdowns from a year ago. OU has a host of talented pass catchers eager to step up and claim those roles, one which is junior Jeffery Mead.
The 6-foot-5, 187-pound receiver from Tulsa, Okla., hauled in six passes for 66 yards a season ago and added a touchdown against Akron on the first reception of his career. Mead certainly has the height to be a great threat in the redzone and is working hard this spring to become a regular part of offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley's passing attack.
Q: How do you feel about the stadium renovations?
A: You know, we love it. I was just talking to Coach (Lincoln) Riley about that today. It's fun to watch it progress. I was talking to some construction workers, and so many people work there. It's cool to see all the parts that are coming together, so it is fun to see.
Q: Does it feel different on the field now that the south end zone is enclosed?
A: “Yeah, but we're starting to get used to it because we see it every day. But there is still a little gap, so it's not completely enclosed just yet.
Q: What have you seen from freshman quarterback Austin Kendall?
A: He has great touch on the football. Obviously he's young and he's developing, but great touch on the football. He throws a really nice long ball.
A: Has Baker Mayfield changed at all this spring?
A: Not at all. He is the same as usual, same as what got him a Heisman candidate run. So to me he looks good, as usual. We still have a lot of fun in practice.
Q: Does it look like he has improved anything in particular?
A: Nothing in particular that I can think of, no. I mean just ball placement, he's good with ball placement and I appreciate that it kind of keeps us from getting our teeth knocked out.
Q: What has it been like to have Geno Lewis in the wide receivers group now and at what does he excel?
A: He's an older more mature guy. He's a little stronger physically. You know, up north they are kind of different than us so it's cool to see different cultures and how people mix together. So I like him. Geno had a really good day today. In particular, physical play, using his body and knowing how to get around defenders. He is really good with that.
Mead makes a one-handed grab during the 2015 Spring Game. Mead hauled in six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown a year ago, and is looking to earn an expanded role this season.
Q: What has the competition for the second corner position looked like from your perspective?
A: Two guys (Dakota Austin and P.J. Mbanasor); obviously they are different sizes and have different abilities and different play styles, so it's kind of hard. They keep you on your toes, they both do different things. I think they will be able to do the job for us.
A: Do you have a preference as to whom you like to compete against?
A: Nope, none in particular. I like going against JT (Jordan Thomas), but he's on the right and I'm on the left, so that doesn't happen too often.
Q: Do you feel like you can step into a leadership role now that you are one of the older guys?
A: I do. I kind of have figured out how things work, what you can do and what you can't do. So I like to help younger guys.
Q: Does this spring feel different in the second year under Coach Riley?
A: It feels like practice now. Last year it was kind of like an adventure exploring stuff, figuring stuff out. Now it's like snap, snap every day.
Q: Is there a player in the NFL that you admire or model your game after?
A: No, not just one because all the guys that are my height are generally bigger than I am. So I would say a combination of guys, but there's a piece from each of their games that I wish I could take and put together to make the ultimate player. I like watching Calvin Johnson, I like watching Odell Beckham and I like watching Julio Jones and Antonio Brown.
Q: Is there any extra buzz having those big non-conference games so early in the schedule?
A: Between us, no. But when fans talk to me, yes. The one hype thing about it is if we win out — anytime we win out we're going — but if we play well we are going to go to the Playoff. That's what I want. So it's fun to know that we have one of the toughest schedules in college football. Especially if you beat it.
Q: What are you looking to improve the most this spring?
A: Just mixing up my releases, figuring out which ones to use depending on where the defender's at and keeping a steady mix, not just getting too complacent. Not sitting in the same place doing the same thing over and over again too consistently.”
Q: You are big hoverboard guy. Are those fading out of style? We don't see them as often on campus.
“People got scared because they catch on fire. I bought one because I wanted it first because it was cool. And I hate walking to class. Now I get to class in three to four minutes.”
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