The Oklahoma Sooners have been surprising some people in the college football world, mainly with what should have been a dominant win over the Michigan Wolverines. They made a few mistakes that prevented the game from being much uglier, and now they could be getting a player back that would only make the offense even better.
On Wednesday, head coach Brent Venables provided a minor update on Jovannie Gibson, the wide receiver the Sooners acquired in the transfer portal, who was expected to be one of the team's top players in the position room.
"He's made tremendous progress. Look forward to seeing him back on the field very soon," Venables said on the weekly SEC Teleconference Call on Wednesday.
They will end up needing him.
I asked Brent Venables about Javonnie Gibson on today's SEC teleconference.
— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) September 10, 2025
"He's made tremendous progress. Look forward to seeing him back on the field very soon."
Gibson is expected to be a big part of the offense when he returns for the #Sooners.
The 6-2, 211-pound transfer WR from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff was expected to come in as a starter after having an impressive spring camp. Then, he broke his leg and has since been recovering. Gibson didn't participate in much of fall camp. However, based on everything we have heard in the last three weeks, he's been great.
Initially, there were rumors he could be back for the Sooners' game against Michigan. Obviously, he wasn't, and they didn't really need him. But they will need him, and when he gets back, the offense will be insane. This team has so many weapons for quarterback John Mateer to go to, and many of them are guys that opposing defenses won't know how to gameplan for. Not to mention, Oklahoma will at some point get Jayden Gibson back, too.
When it comes to Jovannie Gibson, Oklahoma is getting a guy who tallied 1,200 receiving yards last season, with nine touchdowns to go along with that. Sure, that was in the FCS, but his size and skill set will transfer over seamlessly. Now, he won't have a year where he has 1,200 receiving yards, unless something nearly impossible happens, but he will have a huge impact on this offense.
By the time he is back, defenses won't be able to just try to stop one receiver, like Deion Burks or Keontez Lewis. There will be so many options within the Oklahoma offense. When that time comes, it will be fun. But for now, the Sooners will continue to play without him against Temple, and who knows, maybe he will be back against the Auburn Tigers.
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