Oklahoma Sooners HC Brent Venables just delivered some brutal news regarding his team, and someone now needs to step up
The Oklahoma Sooners will be without Trell Harris for some time as he deals with an injury.
The Oklahoma Sooners face a critical stretch of their 2026 season, and they’ll have to do it without one of their best offensive weapons. Wide receiver Terrell Harris will miss significant time, according to Sooners coach Brent Venables, leaving a gaping hole in an offense that already struggled through its first two games.
Oklahoma hosts New Mexico this week before traveling to face the Georgia Bulldogs, making the next few days a proving ground for whoever steps into Harris’s role.
Harris had established himself as the No. 2 wide receiver in the Oklahoma offense through just two weeks. Despite the unit’s overall struggles, Harris consistently created separation and made plays when the ball came his way.
Even in the loss to Michigan in Ann Arbor, Harris was open on the interception thrown by quarterback Jon Metier, a pass tipped at the line. That would have been a big gain if the ball had arrived cleanly. Losing him now stings.
Elijah Thomas emerging as the next man up
When Venables was asked Tuesday who would fill the void, he pointed to sophomore wide receiver Elijah Thomas.
“Excited about those guys. Elijah Thomas is an explosive guy, and we’ve got to get him more involved than he is. I love how fast he’s taken the reins since this summer,” Venables said.
Thomas has flashed in limited opportunities already this season. He hauled in a touchdown catch in Week 1 that was called back because of a penalty, and much of his positive contribution at the position has come in the run game. He’s been a physical, reliable blocker on the outside, and his speed gives the coaching staff something to work with as they look to expand his role in the passing attack.
Beyond Thomas, the Sooners have a talented true freshman wide receiver class that could see increased snaps. Jayden Pettit generated significant buzz this offseason because of his size, with many noting he already looks SEC-ready physically. Parker Livingstone is another name to watch. He made a strong catch against Michigan but then fumbled, and Oklahoma’s staff is likely waiting to see if he can deliver consistent plays without the costly mistakes.
Isaiah Sategna needs to elevate his game
The conversation doesn’t stop with the backups. Oklahoma needs more from its No. 1 wide receiver, Isaiah Sategna. He was outstanding in Week 1 but struggled to create separation against Michigan in Week 2. The Wolverines clearly game-planned to take him away, and it worked.
The jet sweep looks like Oklahoma has been running with Sategna becoming too predictable. When he goes in motion, opposing defenses seem to know the ball is going his way. The coaching staff needs to find creative ways to manufacture touches for him through the screen game, orbit motions, or other schemed-up opportunities. When Sategna gets the ball in space, it’s almost always positive yardage. The issue is getting it to him without tipping off the defense.
New Mexico provides a good opportunity to work through these problems. The Lobos are a solid team coming off a 70-point performance, so Oklahoma can’t sleepwalk through this game. But compared to what waits in Athens against Georgia, this week is the time to experiment, establish new roles, and figure out which receivers can handle expanded responsibilities. The Sooners need answers at wide receiver, and they need them soon.
