JD PicKell: Critical position group for Oklahoma to have success in Brent Venables' first season in Norman

Oklahoma is used to scoring 50 points a game and having their quarterback contend in the Heisman trophy race. Now that the coach that engineered those spectacular offenses is gone, will the Sooners be able to retain their high-powered passing attack? Remains to be seen. However, if they do, Oklahoma will need new receivers to step up, according to On3 analyst JD PicKell.

Over on the On3 YouTube channel, PicKell picked the wide receiver group as the titular position for the Sooners in year one of the Brent Venables era. If the pass catchers can produce at an elite level once again, this time for new QB Dillon Gabriel, then PicKell believes Oklahoma could still contend for a title post-Lincoln Riley.

You can watch PicKell’s comments on the OU WRs right here, or read them in full below.

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JD PicKell on Oklahoma wide receivers

“One critical area of this team, from a position group standpoint at least, is the wide receiver group. Jadon Hazelwood is gone, Mario Williams is gone. A lot of guys that added production last year have since left the program in one way, shape or form or another. A lot of them via the portal.

“So, you look at who they have coming back, and it’s a lot guys, outside of Marvin Mims and Drake Stoops, that aren’t super proven. So, Marvin Mims is great. I think he could be, maybe should be, your No. 1 wide receiver. Definitely your most proven wide receiver so far. He’s a guy you’re excited about. But you look across this roster and say…okay, probably gotta have somebody else step up, especially on the outside. You got Drake Stoops in the slot. Somebody else on the outside has to be a threat for us if we’re gonna get this offense to where it ultimately needs to go.

“Jalil Farooq, a guy who has a ton of physical ability. He’s about 6-foot-1, so a decent frame. They’re excited about his explosive ability. They think he could be a guy that can hurt them down the field, can take the top off a defense and add a whole new level to this offense. Just about everybody in Norman is expecting him to have a breakout year.”

So that’s Jalil Farooq. A guy to know. A guy you probably already know and are excited about in Norman. But on the national landscape, you’re gonna hear about Jalil Farooq in some circles moving forward.