OU football coach Brent Venables expects Andrel Anthony 'will be a major part' of WR group

NORMAN — There are just a handful of OU players with College Football Playoff experience.

Four current Sooners — Jordan Kelley, Austin Stogner, Drake Stoops and Woodi Washington — remain who played in OU’s 2019 Peach Bowl loss to LSU in the CFP.

Defensive lineman Jacob Lacey played for Notre Dame in the 2020 CFP.

But there’s just one who appeared in last season’s CFP — wide receiver Andrel Anthony, who last season at Michigan did not have a catch against TCU but who appeared in the game.

Anthony decided to transfer after the season, winding up with the Sooners, but the junior said his experience last year — even in a limited role — helped put him in position to excel after transferring.

“That really set the standard of where I want to be at every year,” Anthony said recently. “And the coaches and the players (here), they really emphasize that, yeah, we want to win the Big 12 and we want to go to the playoffs, and me knowing how good that feeling to be in Miami — to be in that situation — it’s amazing.

“To be able to compete for, to go to the national championship, I want to do that every year, so that’s why I’m here.”

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Anthony looked like a candidate to break out last season, after recording 12 catches for 248 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman in 2021 — six catches for 155 yards and two scores against Michigan State alone.

But Anthony struggled to find footing in the Wolverines’ offense, recording multiple catches just once last season and finishing with seven catches for 80 yards and one score.

With the Sooners needing to replace a large percentage of their receiving production from last season, Anthony has a chance to carve out a significant role at OU.

“Based on what we’ve seen so far, Andrel will be a major part of the offensive system,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said.

Moving from Michigan’s offense to OU’s has been jarring at times for Anthony.

“It’s been a big adjustment just coming from Michigan,” he said. “We didn’t have the choices like we do here, so just getting an understanding and better IQ of the offense and just knowing defensive coverages more. Coach (Emmett) Jones really has helped me with understanding the game a lot more, just being more than a receiver, being a complete football player. That’s where you can use the leverage to kind of manipulate them, and that helps with routes as well.”

While the learning curve was steep, it was Jeff Lebby’s offensive freedom that drew Anthony to Norman.

“The opportunity, the fast pace and just the trust the coaches have in us as players to be able to run like 80-something plays a game,” Anthony said of his favorite parts of the offense. “We get an explosive play, we’re already lined up again for the next play, and it’s a deep shot for instance. The trust really is a huge thing.”

Anthony’s progression in the offense has been readily apparent to the players who are most involved with him on the field.

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“He’s excelled at our route tree that we have here,” backup quarterback Jackson Arnold said of Anthony. “Our offense, I’m assuming, is a bit different than it was at Michigan — more option routes. So just learning that for him was huge in the spring and then perfecting that over the summer has been a big factor for him and his success this fall camp.”

With that freedom comes plenty of responsibility.

“Just being comfortable has been my main emphasis — being more comfortable and just understanding why I’m doing something as opposed to, ‘I’m running this route just because,’” Anthony said. “Coach Jones really emphasizes just knowing in certain looks, maybe it might not be your ball, just get your bro open.”

Venables, Lebby and Jones have been pleased with Anthony’s on-field performance in camp, but have pushed him to take a bigger leadership role in the offense.

“I’m not the most vocal person, but the coaches have been really trying to get me to step up. They told me I’m leading by example, but now be more vocal. They see I encourage guys, just help the younger guys because I remember being a young guy as well, and when an older guy came to me, I really respected that.”

Anthony not only feels like he’s in position to take a significant step forward, but that the position group as a whole can do the same.

“It’s going to be special,” Anthony said. “I’m excited about everybody in the room because since I’ve been here, I’ve seen the growth that everybody’s had, and it’s like — wow. I know we’re going to be special.”

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OU wide receivers depth chart

Name, Class, Ht., Wt., Hometown (Previous school)

The starters

• Jalil Farooq, Jr., 6-1, 204, Lanham, Md. (Dr. Henry A Wise Jr.)

• Drake Stoops, R5th, 5-10, 189, Norman (Norman North)

• Andrel Anthony, Jr., 6-1, 192, Lansing, Mich. (Michigan)

The reserves

• Gavin Freeman, So., 5-8, 181, Oklahoma City (Heritage Hall)

• Nic Anderson, RFr., 6-4, 209, Katy, Texas)

• LV Bunkley-Shelton, RJr., 5-11, 195, Compton, Calif. (Arizona State)

• Brenen Thompson, So., 5-9, 155, Spearman, Texas (Texas)

• Jaquaize Pettaway, Fr., 5-10, 185, Houston (Langham Creek)

• Jayden Gibson, So., 6-5, 193, Winter Garden, Fla. (West Orange)

• D.J. Graham II, Sr., 6-0, 195, Fort Worth, Texas (Keller Central)

• J.J. Hester, RJr., 6-4, 196, Tulsa (Missouri)

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football: Andrel Anthony hoping for breakout season after transfer