Oklahoma’s offense hasn’t exactly hidden Elijah Thomas, but it also hasn’t fully tapped into what Ben Arbuckle thinks the sophomore receiver can do.
Thomas, a 6-foot, 185-pound wideout from Checotah, Okla., was one of the most praised players on the roster during the offseason after drawing repeated notice as one of the Sooners’ most improved pieces. Four games into 2026, though, the production has stayed modest: just four catches for 38 yards.
Arbuckle isn’t treating that as a reflection of Thomas’ ability. He made it clear the issue is more about getting the ball where it needs to go.
“I’ve got to do a great job because Elijah is super talented, right?” Arbuckle said.
“Wickedly talented. Very strong.
Very fast. Great with his body.”
The opportunities have been there. Thomas has beaten coverage multiple times already this season, including a late downfield route against Michigan on Sept. 12 when he slipped through the middle of the field, only for quarterback John Mateer to throw to tight end Rocky Beers in double coverage.
Against Georgia on Sept. 26, Thomas got wide open beyond the sticks on fourth down, but Mateer hesitated, kept the ball and fumbled.
Even with the small target count, Thomas has stayed heavily involved in the offense. He’s played 139 offensive snaps, and 83 of those have come in passing situations.
That workload fits with how Arbuckle views him. The coordinator said Thomas is doing everything the staff could ask for in practice and that the low number of targets has nothing to do with trust.
“ET is doing everything right,” Arbuckle said. “Doing everything right out at practice.
Probably on our entire team throughout practice strains to finish the hardest. Works incredibly hard.
I just have to make sure that I’m doing a really good job getting him his touches.”
Oklahoma’s depth chart at receiver has also been hit. Transfer wideout Trell Harris was a breakout presence in the first two games, but he suffered an injury against Michigan that will keep him out for the foreseeable future, according to OU coach Brent Venables. That leaves more on the plate for Isaiah Sategna, who leads the Sooners with 267 receiving yards, and Rocky Beers, who is close behind at 255.
For Arbuckle, the plan isn’t to pull Thomas back. If anything, the expectation is that his role keeps growing.
“The more and more he’s in the game, the opportunities will continue to find him more, too,” Arbuckle said. “So I think it’s twofold there. I have to do a way better job of it, but as he’s in there, just the flow of the game, the opportunities will also continue to come at a higher clip.”
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