Manny Choice is moving from intriguing prospect to real contender as Oklahoma heads into fall camp.
Back in April, Brent Venables was talking about the sophomore in terms of upside and raw tools. After a spring practice, the Sooners coach made it clear he liked what he saw.
"Manny Choice is a guy we're really excited about," Venables said following a spring practice. "Again, a big, strong-bodied guy that's athletic.
He's wide-open, plays with tremendous effort and strain, and he's got a great awareness and understanding of how to play receiver-and still learning and growing in that space as well. But he's got a high give-a-crap meter."
Fast forward three months to SEC Media Days, and the tone had shifted. Venables was still praising Choice, but this time the focus was on what the receiver had already done rather than what he might become.
"Manny Choice has had a fabulous (offseason) - I've been bragging on him since he started playing a small role at the end of the year and also was - he and another guy were our top scout team guys on the scout team," Venables said.
"He's had a fabulous spring and summer back to back. Just continued growth, improvement, confidence, playmaking. Really excited about where he is as well."
That progression says plenty. In the spring, Choice was being described as a big-bodied athlete with effort and promise. By midsummer, Venables was pointing to confidence and playmaking - the kind of language coaches use when a player starts turning potential into something more tangible.
The 6-foot-4 receiver now finds himself in a crowded but open battle for snaps. Isaiah Sategna, Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone appear to be Oklahoma’s top three receivers going into camp, which leaves the next spot in the rotation up for grabs.
Choice is right in that mix, along with Elijah Thomas, Jer'Michael Carter and possibly Jayden Petit. His value on special teams should also help his case as he tries to earn a bigger offensive role.
If that spring-and-summer momentum carries into fall camp, Choice has a chance to become one of Oklahoma’s breakout players in 2026.
For now, the message from Venables has stayed steady: the Sooners have believed in Choice’s talent for a while. The difference now is that he looks like he’s starting to show it.
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