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.

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.

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.

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

• 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.

“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.”