Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Gavin Freeman has declared his intention to enter the transfer portal after spending two seasons in Norman.
Freeman arrived at OU as a walk-on from Heritage Hall (OK), following the footsteps of his father, Jason Freeman, who previously played tight end for the Sooners.
Despite not being on scholarship, Freeman managed to carve out a respectable role for himself during his true freshman year. He appeared in 13 games, making three catches for 46 yards, and carried the ball seven times for 71 yards and a touchdown.
The fleet-footed wideout made a memorable debut in the 2022 season opener against UTEP, scoring a touchdown on his first collegiate touch with a 46-yard sprint to the end zone, evading multiple tackles along the way.
Following a promising debut season, Freeman earned a scholarship and saw an expanded role in 2023. Standing at 5-foot-8, he hauled in 19 receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown, while also contributing on the ground with five carries for 20 yards.
During his sophomore campaign, Freeman earned a respectable offensive grade of 64.2 from Pro Football Focus, logging 142 offensive snaps. Additionally, he assumed the role of OU’s primary punt returner, fielding 18 punts for 122 return yards and scoring one touchdown.
Freeman showcased his explosive playmaking abilities in Oklahoma’s season opener against Arkansas State, returning a punt 82 yards for a touchdown, highlighting his remarkable speed and agility. His lone receiving touchdown of the season also came in the same game against the Red Wolves.
However, despite his standout performance against ASU, Freeman encountered difficulties as a returner throughout the season, fumbling multiple punts in crucial situations. One such instance occurred against TCU, where a mishandled ball granted the Horned Frogs possession in the red zone, resulting in a touchdown for the visiting team.
Overall, Freeman received a special teams grade of 58.8 from PFF for his contributions in the 2023 season.
While Freeman’s decision to enter the transfer portal may come as a surprise, the Oklahoma Sooners’ wide receiver unit boasts considerable talent and promises intense competition during fall camp.
With players like Nic Anderson, Jayden Gibson, Brenen Thompson, Andrel Anthony, Jalil Farooq, and Jaquaize Pettaway, coupled with the addition of Deion Burks, wide receivers coach Emmett Jones has a wealth of skilled options at his disposal within the position group.
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