Oklahoma’s receivers have been getting an education every day in fall camp, and Isaiah Sategna thinks that grind is exactly what the Sooners need.
With Emmett Jones’ wideout room going up against the Bowen brothers, Peyton and Eli, Courtland Guillory, Michael Boganowski, Jacobe Johnson and others on a daily basis, Sategna says the work has been invaluable as OU heads toward the season.
“I’m really liking what I’m seeing as a team,” Sategna said on Tuesday. “Offense, defense.
Iron sharpens iron. I really like the spot that we’re in right now.”
Sategna’s own return to Norman has already produced career-best numbers after transferring from Arkansas. He led OU with 67 catches for 965 yards and eight touchdowns, and he came back looking to raise the bar again.
“Feel like I really put in the work this off-season, and I’m ready to just show everybody what I can do this year,” Sategna said.
He pointed to a couple of specific areas where he’s tried to sharpen his game.
“One thing (I improved) was blocking, and then focusing on every single play. Not taking any plays off. Just having the most utmost belief, focus, on every single play.”
The bigger picture, though, is an offense that Sategna believes is coming together. Oklahoma has emphasized running the ball more efficiently this offseason, and that could make life easier for the Sooners’ pass catchers once the season starts.
“We had a lot of returning starters and then we had some guys from the portal, so I feel like we’ve got everything we need,” Sategna said, echoing the message of guest speaker and former NFL head coach Jon Gruden. “We don’t need anybody else. We’ve got what we need and we’ve just got to focus and keep just honing in on the details.”
The defense has been doing its part to harden that belief. Sategna said the looks Brent Venables’ unit throws at the offense are unlike what Oklahoma will see from most opponents, which has forced the Sooners to sharpen their communication, especially with John Mateer.
“Going against BV’s defense, you’re going to see stuff that you don’t see with other teams,” Sategna said. “You’re going to see something new every day, too.
It’s really good going against them, seeing different looks and stuff. It helps us communicate with John (Mateer) more.
We’ve really got to be really on the same page when we’re going against BV’s defense.”
In Other News...
Todd McShay Sees One Big Reason Oklahoma Could Surprise People
Todd McShay sees a version of Oklahoma that could be harder to size up than outsiders expect, and a big part of that comes from how the program has been built under general manager Jim Nagy and coach Brent Venables. He pointed to a cleaner, more efficient model with defined roles, the kind of structure that can matter when a team is trying to turn offseason organization into fall results.
McShay also likes the direction of quarterback John Mateer, noting mechanical adjustments he observed during the offseason and suggesting there is room for him to improve this season. For Oklahoma, that combination of a more streamlined operation and a quarterback with apparent upside is the sort of formula that can quietly change expectations before anyone has seen the real thing on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Hatton Jr Is Giving Oklahoma A New Backfield Dilemma
Jonathan Hatton Jr. has quickly become one of the more interesting parts of Oklahomas preseason backfield picture, and not just because he is the biggest running back on the roster. The Sooners brought him in with the expectation that his size would help, but what has stood out is how well that frame moves, giving him a different kind of presence in a room already full of runners trying to carve out a role.
The competition around him is crowded enough to make every rep matter, with Lloyd Avant viewed as a possible starter and Xavier Robinson getting the early edge in camp. There are still other names in the mix, and the group could keep shifting as the preseason unfolds, especially with one of the more familiar options working back from a hamstring issue. For Oklahoma, the intrigue is less about whether Hatton belongs and more about how much of the backfield he can force his way into. [Read more 🡒]