Oklahoma has found its new wide receivers, according to comments to the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal-Star.

Jay Norvell, who had been offensive coordinator at Nebraska from 2004-06 and spent last season in the same position at UCLA, indicated he had accepted the position in a text message.

“I had some other pretty good opportunities,” Norvell’s message said. “It was just too appealing to be at Oklahoma with all of the talent it has returning. It’s a hell of a group. There were some other coordinator positions I looked at, but there wasn’t the right combination of talent and (institutional) support.”

OU officials couldn’t confirm the report.

Norvell would replace Kevin Sumlin, who left following this past season to become head coach at Houston.

If Norvell’s name sounds familiar to Sooner fans, it should. He was previously hired by OU coach Bob Stoops to coach receivers at OU before the 2002 season, but after just a month with the program, he left to take a position under Bill Callahan with the Oakland Raiders.

Norvell followed Callahan to Nebraska, where he was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for three seasons. He was UCLA’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach last season under Karl Dorrell, who was fired at the end of the 2007 season.

Norvell also coached wide receivers for the Indianapolis Colts from 1998-2001.

John Shinn

366-3536

jshinn@normantranscript.com