Dillon Gabriel opens up about Andrel Anthony injury, what's next for Oklahoma WRs

With a great victory over Texas last week, Oklahoma also suffered a massive loss. Andrel Anthony went down with a season-ending injury, Brent Venables confirmed Monday, meaning the Sooners will go forward without their leading receiver.

For Dillon Gabriel, it means he’s down a key weapon. It also means one of his close friends will stay on the sidelines the rest of the year.

Gabriel joined College Football Live on ESPN2 and spoke about what it will be like without Anthony. While he leaves some big shoes to fill, it also presents an opportunity for other young players to step up and fill them. That’s his message going forward — but that doesn’t make it an easy situation for Anthony.

“Hate it for Andrel,” Gabriel told Kelsey Riggs. “He’s a great friend of mine and someone I just think very highly of. But I know he’s gonna come back better and stronger. Just the type of person he is. I’m excited for the younger guys to step up and for their opportunity that’s present for them. So I’m excited for them. Hate it for Andrel, but he’s a brother and he’s gonna be right next to us all every step of the way.”

Anthony has been a key part of the Oklahoma offense this year after transferring from Michigan, leading the Sooners with 429 yards through six games. He went down on a scramble by Gabriel in the third quarter and didn’t return. In more than two quarters of play, Anthony had five receptions for 42 yards.

Brent Venables: Andrel Anthony’s ‘best football is in front of him’ after season-ending injury

On Monday, Venables made the announcement that Anthony would miss the rest of the season due to knee surgery. He echoed a similar sentiment to Gabriel, pointing out other players such as Nic Anderson — who caught the game-winning touchdown — and Jayden Gibson could step up.

“It’s tough,” Venables said, via Sooner Scoop’s George Stoia III. “You hate it for him. We have other guys. You hate it for Andrel and how hard he’s worked. We got to 6-0. He had a big part in helping us get there. Again, all of his best football is in front of him. He’ll have a great career on the back end of this surgery. He doesn’t have much swelling. That usually means it’s a little quicker recovery for him. I hate that for him, but it gives some of the guys an opportunity.”

Oklahoma will have some time to adjust to life without Anthony. The Sooners are on a bye this week before getting back on the field next week against UCF — a program Gabriel knows well.