The Oklahoma Sooners‘ offense was improved from 2024, but still has a ways to go to help OU become a national title contender. They had their moments, but at times the Sooners were bogged down by an inconsistent passing game. Some of that is on the shoulders of quarterback John Mateer, but the Sooners also lacked consistency at wide receiver.
Isaiah Sategna emerged as a big-play weapon for the Sooners. He finished second in the SEC in receiving yards and was an All-SEC selection, posting the best wide receiver season since Marvin Mims in 2022. But beyond Sategna, the rest of the wide receiver corps was up and down.
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Keontez Lewis battled injuries throughout much of the 2025 season. Javonnie Gibson never met the offseason hype after returning from a broken leg suffered in spring ball. Deion Burks finished second on the team in receiving and came up huge in the playoff loss to Alabama with seven receptions for 107 yards. However, he had four games with just two receptions.
Lewis and Burks are out of eligibility. Burks has declared for the NFL draft, and the Sooners await a decision from Sategna, who could go in the top 100 of the 2026 NFL draft because of his speed and route-running ability. And that makes wide receiver the No. 1 priority in the transfer portal for Colton Sulley of The Oklahoman.
The Sooners lacked playmakers at receiver this past season. Arkansas transfer Isaiah Sategna exceeded expectations with a career-high 965 receiving yards, but Deion Burks didn’t come on until late and OU’s younger receivers rarely saw the field. Across the SEC, teams have multiple big-play, dynamic receivers who offenses can rely on heavily to produce. Expect the Sooners to add multiple receivers, including a true No. 1 to replace Sategna, who’s likely headed for the NFL Draft. – Sulley, The Oklahoman
The Oklahoma Sooners were reluctant to play some of their young wide receivers this season, relying on a short rotation, leaving OU with questions on the depth chart. There’s a lot of potential, but because Oklahoma’s coaching staff wouldn’t put them on the field, there’s still a lot of uncertainty.
So Oklahoma heads into portal season unsure if young wide receivers like Zion Kearney, Ivan Carreon, Emmanuel Choice, Elijah Thomas, and others can help them, creating a significant need at wide receiver even if Sategna returns for the Sooners.
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With the portal opening in a few days, the Sooners will be looking for players who can come into Ben Arbuckle’s offense and provide an immediate contribution. But they can’t let portal additions prevent them from developing the talent they’ve recruited.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: The Oklahoman believes WR to be Sooners top transfer portal need
