For the last three seasons, Oklahoma’s tight end play has gone relatively unnoticed. It’s been that long since Trent Smith caught 46 passes in 2002. Since, the tight ends’ role in the passing game has been a bit part.

Sure they blocked, but receptions were few and far between.

But OU’s 24-17 victory over Alabama-Birmingham signaled the days of obscurity may be over for the group.

Joe Jon Finley, a tight end, was OU’s leading receiver with four catches for 79 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown grab. Freshman Jermaine Gresham also added a 14-yard catch.

“One of the reasons why we are going to the two tight ends right now is because they are pretty good,” offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. “They are playing better than any tight ends that we have had around here in a while, and they are some of our best players right now. They give us good matchups.”

That was evident in the Sooners’ first scoring drive. Quarterback Paul Thompson hit Finley twice for two big gains, including the touchdown.

It was a simple matter of taking what the defense was giving. Every defense OU is going to play will load up to stop Adrian Peterson. Every step he takes catches the wandering eyes of linebackers and safeties.

Those are the same defenders who are supposed to be paying attention to tight ends.

Wilson noticed it early against UAB.

He intended to use a script for the first couple of series, but once he saw the attention Peterson was receiving, he decided to ad-lib.

“We lined up in that formation and we saw the coverage and what they were giving us on that play,” Finley said. “We ran it twice in a row. It was pretty much the same play. They did the same thing both times and luckily it opened up for a touchdown that second time for us.”

Things should continue to open up for Finley, a junior.

When he arrived at OU in 2003, he was as a skinny quarterback from Arlington, Texas. Through the years, he’s added size to his lanky 6-foot-6 frame. He currently weighs 255 pounds, 15 more than he weighed last season when he caught 13 passes with two going for touchdowns.

“He’s real physical and he’s definitely one of the hardest workers we’ve had in the offseason,” Thompson said. “I’ve gotten to know what type of athleticism he has. He showed it in that game and he’s played in many other games here as well and he’s made big plays. He’s definitely a player I like to go to — a big target with great hands — and he’ll be able to make some plays for us.”

And blocks.