Potential first-round NFL Draft pick will be a matchup problem for Oklahoma Sooners to solve
The Red River Rivalry has had its fair share of first-round draft picks over its century-long duration. From recents like Tyler Guyton, Caleb Williams, and Anton Harrison to Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, and CeeDee Lamb and to older names like Adrian Peterson, Sam Bradford, Tommie Harris, Roy Williams, Tony Casillas, Billy Sims, and Lee Roy […]
The Red River Rivalry has had its fair share of first-round draft picks over its century-long duration. From recents like Tyler Guyton, Caleb Williams, and Anton Harrison to Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield, and CeeDee Lamb and to older names like Adrian Peterson, Sam Bradford, Tommie Harris, Roy Williams, Tony Casillas, Billy Sims, and Lee Roy Selmon, this game has produced top-flight NFL talents seemingly every year.
This year is no different, and one of those players will be a matchup problem that the Oklahoma Sooners will have to prepare for.
No, I'm not talking about quarterback Quinn Ewers. I'm talking about the player who could potentially be the top player drafted at his position in the 2025 NFL Draft. I'm talking about Texas tight end Gunnar Helm.
An unheralded name entering the season, Helm bided his time behind fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders. Helm came into 2024 with just 19 catches and less than 250 receiving yards in his career despite this being his fourth season with the Longhorns.
However, he's broken out this season, emerging as a reliable weapon for the Longhorns' offense.
Helm burst onto the scenes against the Michigan Wolverines in Week 2, racking up 98 yards and a touchdown on seven catches in Ann Arbor. He had one massive catch and run the following week against UTSA where he hurdled a defender in the open field, showcasing his impressive athletic ability.
Plays like this are all over Helm's film. He's a smooth operator out in space, with little wasted movement to change directions. He attacks the ball well and plucks it out with nice, soft hands. After years of lacking a complete tight end, Helm has very good reps as a blocker in the run game as well, boasting his well-rounded game.
Texas lines him up all over the formation as well. Helm has played in the backfield, inline, in the slot, and out wide, creating mismatches wherever he goes.
Fortunately for Oklahoma, they have the linebackers and safeties to help mitigate this mismatch. On the season, the Sooners have allowed just 11 catches for 87 yards to tight ends. They haven't quite battled a guy like Helm this season, however.
Helm was an unheralded impact player in last year's Red River game, catching four passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. The Sooners are familiar with his game, but that might not mean they can stop it.
Oklahoma can't afford to take safety help away from Isaiah Bond to keep Helm boxed up, so plenty of their coverage calls will be up to this linebacker corps to limit his impact.
How this matchup goes in a battle of talented difference-makers could decide the game.
