Published August 26, 2008 12:02 am - The question was poised to Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford a couple weeks ago. With Malcolm Kelly gone to the NFL was he going to have any deep threats this season. Bradford gave a puzzled look before answering. “I’m not worried about it,” he said.
Sooners returned experienced receivers
By John Shinn
The Norman Transcript
The question was poised to Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford a couple weeks ago. With Malcolm Kelly gone to the NFL was he going to have any deep threats this season.
Bradford gave a puzzled look before answering.
“I’m not worried about it,” he said.
Kelly may not be back, but there’s no panic over replacing him. The Sooners’ receiver cupboard is far from bare.
They still have a veteran receiver to lean on and Juaquin Iglesias is about as veteran as it gets. He’s played in 40 games over the previous three seasons and caught 128 passes and nine touchdowns. He’s played everywhere from the slot to wide out.
This season he will be OU’s go-to receiver.
“He’s been really good through camp,” receivers coach Jay Norvell said. “He has been really consistent and is solid as a rock in everything that he is doing. He has had a great camp.”
The reason the Sooners’ receivers don’t appear to be poised for a dip is that there are plenty of veteran receivers around. Two seniors — Manuel Johnson and Quentin Chaney — are expected to grab bigger roles this season.
Johnson has been a part-time starter since 2006 and is coming off a 31-catch season. He’s pegged to be the starter at slot receiver, but could also play out wide.
Chaney, who’s moved his way to the top of the depth chart after four seasons in the program, gives OU a big receiver (6-foot-5, 200 pounds) and another deep threat.
“I believed that I showed that I can be a positive influence in short-yardage, in the red zone, and I have proven that I can get open on the deep pass,” Chaney said. “I feel like I have stepped it up this camp and certainly showed them that I need to be on the field.”
But the receiver position is one that has to be deep. No matter what guys running 30- or 40-yard sprints on every play need breaks.
Behind Iglesias, Johnson and Chaney are some younger players who will get a lot of playing time this season.
Adron Tennell is coming off knee surgery, but has fought his way into the mix. He’s another big receiver who can run.
Former Norman High standout Ryan Broyles has dazzled coaches and teammates throughout training camp. He’s the only receiver in the Sooners’ two-deep under 6-foot, but he’s incredibly quick and is a slot receiver in the Mark Clayton mold.