The Oklahoma football program is undergoing a significant transformation at the wide receiver position as it prepares for the 2025 season. Junior wide receiver Brenen Thompson became
the latest player to enter the transfer portal on Thursday, marking the sixth pass-catcher from the Sooners’ roster to make such a move. His departure was confirmed by 247Sports’ Matt
Zenitz and Chris Hummer. Thompson joins Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq, Andrel Anthony, Jaquaize Pettaway, and JJ Hester, all of whom entered the portal earlier this week.
Thompson, who spent his freshman season at Texas in 2022, transferred to Oklahoma in the summer of 2023. However, his time in Norman was plagued by injuries. After missing the first
half of the season, he appeared in six games, finishing with seven receptions for 241 yards and two touchdowns. His most memorable moment came in the Alamo Bowl against Arizona, when
he caught a career-long 63-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jackson Arnold. During the 2023 season, Thompson was one of the few wide receivers able to remain on the field
despite the team being ravaged by injuries at the position. Over the course of the season, he accumulated 19 receptions for 230 yards and
two touchdowns. However, he struggled to find consistent production in an offense that faced numerous challenges throughout the year.
As Thompson departs the program, the Sooners’ wide receiver room continues to see significant turnover. His exit adds to the reshuffling of
personnel in an effort to rebuild the unit. Heading into bowl season, Oklahoma is left with only six scholarship wide receivers on its roster:
Deion Burks, Jayden Gibson, Zion Kearney, Zion Ragins, Ivan Carreon, and KJ Daniels. Oklahoma’s wide receiver corps has experienced major disruption in recent months,
with several key players opting to leave the program for other opportunities. The departures signal an ongoing effort by the Sooners to address their depth and talent at the position.
With a new slate of players and potential recruits on the horizon, the coaching staff will likely look to make adjustments in the coming months to ensure the unit’s competitiveness.
The loss of Thompson, while significant, is part of a broader reshaping process that has affected multiple positions within the program. As head coach Brent Venables works to mold the team
into a contender, addressing the wide receiver group will be a priority heading into the 2025 season. The program’s future success may depend on its ability to attract talent and develop young players at this critical position.
Oklahoma’s offensive struggles in 2023 have added urgency to the rebuilding process. Despite individual flashes of talent from players like Thompson, the unit as a whole never found
the consistency needed to propel the offense. With a new wave of players expected to join the program, the Sooners’ coaching staff will be focused on ensuring a better balance between talent and execution at wide receiver.
As the team navigates these changes, the departures of Thompson and others could ultimately lead to a more cohesive and
productive wide receiver group in the long run. Oklahoma’s ability to recruit and develop future stars will be crucial to its success in the years to come as the program looks to return to its competitive peak.