Injuries open the door for underrated transfer portal talent to make their name on the Oklahoma Sooners offense
I wrote last week about the multiple injuries afflicting the Oklahoma Sooners and limiting the players who could participate in spring training, with many of the injured players being key players for Oklahoma in 2025. One of those players was star wide receiver Deion Burks, who led the Sooners' in touchdown receptions last season. While […]
I wrote last week about the multiple injuries afflicting the Oklahoma Sooners and limiting the players who could participate in spring training, with many of the injured players being key players for Oklahoma in 2025.
One of those players was star wide receiver Deion Burks, who led the Sooners' in touchdown receptions last season. While the extent of Burks's injury is unknown, he has been in a boot and not practicing.
This is certainly alarming news, given what Oklahoma's wide receiver room went through in 2024 and Burks' numerous injuries last season. Yet, it's allowed a relatively unheralded transfer product to step up and potentially carve out his own role in the Sooners' offense.
Previewing Oklahoma Sooners 2025 offense depth chart: How does Ben Arbuckle change the room?
The 2024 offseason brought plenty of changes to the Oklahoma Sooners' depth chart heading into next season. Over 30 players departed in the transfer portal, some starters, others not, and the Sooners brought in a decent haul of replacements to fill in the gaps and upgrade at a few spots. What does the team look […]
Per source, with Burks out, Arkansas transfer wide receiver Isaiah Sategna has filled his spot in the slot and has already made several terrific plays in practice so far. Sategna and quarterback John Mateer, who also transferred to the Sooners, have started forming a nice rapport with each other so far.
Sategna is a nice playmaker in his own right whose production felt limited by Arkansas's passing game. However, when he was in, he still made his presence felt.
While I still expect Burks to be back and healthy by the time the season starts, it's relieving to see another playmaker begin to step up and be involved in Oklahoma's offense. Sategna will also likely help out as a kick and punt returner.
There's potential for both of them to carve playing time together as well. Last season under new Sooners offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, the Washington State Cougars ran 226 plays (25%) out of 10-personnel or 0-1 (4 WRs). Another 35, or 4%, were out of 00, with 5 wide receivers.
While the majority of the Sooners' offense will live in 3-wide receiver sets, there are enough playmakers now on the roster to at least have some personnel flexibility here, unlike last season.
Sategna earning this kind of opportunity, despite the unfortunate circumstances leading to it, is critical in allowing the Sooners to form depth the team needs to turn the offense around heading into a critical 2025 season.
