There has been a lot made by the playmakers that the Oklahoma Sooners have added around quarterback John Mateer. Last season, the Sooners ranked No. 92 in total offense.
A major reason for the struggles was that the team lacked enough playmakers beyond wide receiver Isaiah Sategna. So, the Sooners attacked the transfer portal, adding Virginia Cavaliers wide receiver Trell Harris and Texas Longhorns wide receiver Parker Livingstone. Those two have received a ton of offseason buzz.
However, during fall camp, two sophomores are getting a lot of attention. That is Manny Choice and Elijah Thomas. Head coach Brent Venables spent time in his press conference on Friday, calling out the two young receivers.
"For the Oklahoma Sooners to be the team that
we want to be, that we've talked about wanting to be, it includes Manny and Elijah Thomas being dudes," Venables said via SoonerScoop. "Not being freshmen, who, you know, are forgotten. They're now sophomores, like being dudes. Showing up and having some purpose to what they're doing. So far, camp's been good for those guys. They've taken another step from where we were in the spring."
Venables' comments are significant because Oklahoma needs more than just its veteran playmakers to emerge if the offense is going to take a meaningful step forward in 2026.
Choice, a former four-star recruit, showed flashes during the offseason and has continued to receive opportunities with the younger receivers. Thomas is another player the Sooners hope can develop into a legitimate contributor. If either sophomore can turn the attention they're receiving in camp into production on Saturdays, it would give Mateer another weapon to work with.
That's particularly important considering the amount of attention Sategna, Harris and Livingstone are likely to receive from opposing defenses. Oklahoma cannot afford to rely on just a few players in the passing game, especially with the SEC schedule ahead.
Venables has made his expectations clear. Now, it's up to Oklahoma's young receivers to prove they're ready to become the playmakers the Sooners need.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma's Brent Venables sends clear message to two young WRs
