Connect with us

Oklahoma

How Oklahoma WR Jalil Farooq Has Quickly Evolved Into an All-Purpose Weapon

Published

on

How Oklahoma WR Jalil Farooq Has Quickly Evolved Into an All-Purpose Weapon


Marvin Mims stays Oklahoma’s alpha receiver.

However Jalil Farooq is making up floor — and quick.

The Sooner sophomore has picked up the tempo and turned up his manufacturing because the OU offense continues to seek for choices.

Advertisement

After his most up-to-date effort — 74 yards receiving at Iowa State, together with a 41-yard landing, plus 26 yards dashing (and one other 23 on kickoff returns), Farooq was named participant of the sport by head coach Brent Venables.

“They’re utilizing me,” Farooq mentioned final Saturday after the Sooners beat Iowa State, “so I’m profiting from it.”

Farooq additionally was appointed workforce captain for this week’s residence recreation in opposition to Baylor.

“He has displayed nice toughness,” Venables mentioned on Tuesday. “He actually has a flexible talent set. He made a few large performs.”

As a 4-star recruit out of Landham, MD, Farooq’s highschool didn’t play in 2020. He started his freshman season final yr with no senior season — after which suffered a summer time hamstring damage. Through the common season, Farooq had only one catch.

Advertisement

However within the Alamo Bowl, he caught three passes for 64 yards. That — and his offseason grind — earned him a beginning spot on this yr’s lineup.

Farooq has made essentially the most of his alternative: he’s began six video games up to now and he’s third on the workforce with 20 catches for 269 yards and has two landing receptions.

Mims leads the Sooners with 34 receptions for 558 yards with three TDs, and tight finish Brayden Willis is subsequent with 22 for 320 and 5 scores.

Scroll to Proceed

In his final three video games, nonetheless, Farooq has been arguably the Sooners’ most dynamic participant.

Advertisement
  • He led the workforce with 60 yards dashing in opposition to Texas as OU scrambled to piece collectively an offensive assault with out Dillon Gabriel.
  • He had 4 catches for 42 yards in opposition to Kansas.
  • He had 74 receiving and 26 dashing at Iowa State, and received himself huge open on the landing down the appropriate sideline.
  • Farooq additionally had 140 all-purpose yards in opposition to TCU (123 on kickoff returns), had 77 in opposition to Kansas State (69 receiving) and 58 (all receiving) and his first profession TD at Nebraska.

“I feel it’s just a little simply been simply chewing away and ready for his alternative when his time comes and when the ball’s going his manner,” Gabriel mentioned. “So he’s been simply working at it as a lot as he can and simply profiting from each alternative, which I’m actually happy with him.”

Receiving, operating or returning, the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Farooq has emerged as a big-time weapon for the Sooners.

“I really feel like in observe I uncovered that I might run the ball,” Farooq mentioned, “so after that, I really feel like they began exposing me extra, shifting me round lots.”

“I keep in mind final summer time when he received right here, the expansion is simply thoughts boggling, when it comes to how a lot he has grown,” Mims mentioned on Monday evening after observe. “Simply to see him try this on a stage the place we wanted him as a workforce is a big factor.”

“His understanding of the offense,” mentioned offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, “and what he is being requested to do — that, to me, has been the place the best progress has been. After which he is now enjoying plenty of soccer. Once more, he hadn’t performed a ton of ball. He is performed a bunch all yr, in order that’s the place you’ve got seen a ton of progress. He is received an awesome understanding.”

Versatility is one factor. However Farooq has been prepared to do actually something the teaching employees asks of him.

Advertisement

“I really feel like my function has advanced by me simply being a playmaker,” Farooq mentioned, “simply profiting from any alternative I’ve — me getting handoffs, me catching and operating, something that I can do to assist the workforce, that’s what I’m making an attempt to do and that’s what the coaches are utilizing me for, a job participant, in order that’s what I have to be.”

“He’s simply actually athletic and might do many issues,” Gabriel mentioned. “And I feel the fantastic thing about him is he can play inside, play outdoors. He can get into the run recreation after which additionally simply actually good on the perimeter blocking. So simply having his sort of, you already know, physique sort however then additionally his mentality. He’s simply right down to do no matter and desirous to get the ball or assist out in each single manner he can.”

“He’s earned his first captain place this week by his work and his consistency and dedication and toughness,” Venables mentioned. “That’s a man, from the place he began to the place he’s — I do know he had that basically good exhibiting for us in our bowl recreation — simply seeing the incremental enchancment, he’s actually performed fairly dang good all yr. Discovering the issues he does nicely and capitalizing and nurturing that in our recreation plan is what you’re seeing.”

“It is nice for him and nice for us as a workforce, however I am simply glad for him,” Mims mentioned. “I’m extraordinarily glad for him. He deserves it. He has labored his butt off this complete yr.”



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State LB Jeff Roberson Headed to Big 10 School

Published

on

Oklahoma State LB Jeff Roberson Headed to Big 10 School


Oklahoma State’s most recent transfer portal departure has already found a new home.

On Monday, OSU linebacker Jeff Roberson announced he was entering the transfer portal and looking to close his career elsewhere. Roberson wasted no time finding his next school, as he committed to Minnesota on Thursday.

Roberson began his career at OSU in 2020 and mostly played on special teams and as a backup throughout the first few years of his career. After missing the entire 2022 season with an injury, he came back in 2023 to play largely the same role.

However, his luck changed in 2024. With so many injuries throughout the OSU defense, the Cowboys needed players to step up at every position, and Roberson took advantage. In 2024, Roberson played in every game and finished with 58 tackles, nine tackles for loss and an interception. Before entering the transfer portal, Roberson’s numbers from 2024 would have made him OSU’s leading returning tackler.

Advertisement

Roberson’s departure was about as surprising as any move at OSU this offseason. Considering he had spent the first five seasons of his career in Stillwater and finally carved out a sizeable role last season, it appeared Roberson would carry that momentum into 2025 as a leader of the OSU defense.

Instead, he used his extra opportunity and leap to find a better situation as OSU overhauled its coaching staff and continues to bring in various defensive players through the transfer portal. However, going to Minnesota was the second surprising part of his decision. Early predictions were for Roberson, a Choctaw native, to stay in his home state and play at Oklahoma next season. As he makes his way north to play for PJ Fleck’s team next season, there is no doubt Roberson can have an impact to finish his career.

Want to join the discussion? Like Oklahoma State Cowboys on SI on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Oklahoma

Gophers help fill need on defense with Oklahoma State linebacker

Published

on

Gophers help fill need on defense with Oklahoma State linebacker


The Gophers football program addressed a need in the middle of its defense for the 2025 season with Oklahoma State linebacker Jeff Roberson on Thursday night.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound graduate transfer from Choctaw, Okla., totaled 58 tackles, including 8.5 for lost yards, three sacks and one interception in 12 games in 2024. He had a middling 57.7 grade from Pro Football Focus, along with 19 pressures, but also 11 missed tackles last season.

Roberson played 670 snaps last season, but only 107 across 2021 and 2023. He played special teams as a freshman in 2020 and missed the 2022 season with injury.

Roberson will help fill the void left by leading tackler Cody Lindenberg; the Anoka native declared for the NFL draft after the regular season and skipped the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. Maverick Baranowski and Devon Williams top the U’s depth chart at linebacker going into next season.

Advertisement

The Gophers have added 15 total players via the NCAA transfer portal since early December and are still looking for help at cornerback and possibly defensive line.

Originally Published:



Source link

Continue Reading

Oklahoma

Ole Miss Linebacker Transfer Trip White Commits to Oklahoma State

Published

on

Ole Miss Linebacker Transfer Trip White Commits to Oklahoma State


TRANSFER PORTAL TRACKER

The Cowboys went to the SEC to pick another linebacker out of the portal.

Ole Miss transfer Trip White, who was listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds last season, pledged to Oklahoma State, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. White played in all 13 of the Rebels’ games this past season, his redshirt sophomore year. He made one tackle, primarily playing special teams.

White played in three games while maintaining a redshirt as a true freshman in 2022. He appeared in five games in 2023, and to this point has totaled nine career tackles.

Advertisement

Out of Parkview Magnet in Little Rock, Arkansas, White was a three-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class and chose Ole Miss over offers from Arkansas, Kansas State, Baylor, Louisville, Oklahoma State, Indiana and others. The 247Sports Composite system tabbed White as the No. 1,103 player in the class, the No. 109 linebacker in the class and the No. 12 player from Arkansas in 2022. He also started as his team’s quarterback as a high school senior, throwing for 2,035 yards and 19 touchdowns to go with 445 rushing yards and seven more scores.

White becomes the third linebacker the Pokes have grabbed out of the portal, joining Bryan McCoy (Akron) and Brandon Rawls (Saginaw Valley State). White’s addition comes a few days after Jeff Roberson hopped in the portal. With Roberson, Nick Martin, Collin Oliver and Kendal Daniels all gone from last season’s squad, OSU’s linebacker room — like most position rooms — will look quite a bit different heading into 2025. Kap Dede is set to coach that group, with new OSU defensive coordinator Todd Grantham bringing him in from Western Kentucky.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending