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Oklahoma Young Wide Receivers Shined on Third Downs Against UCF

Originally posted on FanNation All Sooners
By Ryan Chapman | Last updated 10/22/23

NORMAN — Replacing Andrel Anthony was a job that was always going to be bigger than just one person.

When the dynamic receiver went down against Texas, Oklahoma lost not only an explosive vertical threat, but the No. 6-ranked Sooners lost Dillon Gabriel’s favorite third down target.

Saturday’s 31-29 win over the UCF Knights at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium offered offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and receivers coach Emmett Jones their first look at how OU’s young crop of receivers would be able to try and replace Anthony’s production.

For Lebby and Jones, Nic Anderson continued to be one of the great development successes of the season.

The redshirt freshman starred again, catching five passes for 105 yards and two scores, upping his season haul to 16 receptions for 387 yards and eight touchdowns.

He continued to show he can run through arm tackles while being a pair of sure hands when he gets behind the defense, but early Anderson made a small play that stood out.

After the Sooners opened the scoring, OU’s defense gave the offense the ball back with a chance to go up two scores early.

Early in the drive, an incompletion lead to a third-and-5 from the UCF 36-yard line, where a bad play would halt Oklahoma’s momentum in its tracks.

Instead, Gabriel connected with Anderson for an 8-yard gain to move the sticks.

The drive ultimately resulted in one of kicker Zach Schmit’s two misses, but the connection showed Gabriel’s continued trust in Anderson that has been built through the first half of the season.

“He’s playing really well,” Lebby said of Anderson after the win. “He’s created great confidence for himself because of how he’s produced. But to me, it’s all about how he works, how he goes about it every single day.

“He’s about the right things. He’s a guy who has great toughness. He’s operating with great edge right now. I’m looking for great things moving forward from him.”

Anderson later caught a 42-yard touchdown on third-and-3 in the second quarter, and had a key 19-yard grab on OU’s final scoring drive to set up Gavin Sawchuk’s 30-yard touchdown run.

This route by Nic Anderson

pic.twitter.com/fNKL5gdpd2
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 21, 2023

But Anderson wasn’t the only young pass catcher to step up in a key spot.

Early in the fourth quarter, Gabriel tried to lead the Sooners down the field to cut into the six-point deficit.

Facing a third-and-12 on his own 32-yard line, an incompletion from Gabriel would have set the Knights up with great field position as they tried to extend the lead to two possessions.

Gabriel appeared to leave a ball slightly behind Jayden Gibson, who was streaking down the middle of the field, but the 6-foot-5 receiver was able to reach back across his body and haul in the 17-yard reception as he fell down.

Once again the drive didn’t result in points, but OU was able to pin UCF inside its own 20-yard line to flip the field after Gibson’s third down catch.

Though Gibson and Anderson haven’t been leaned on as primary targets on third downs yet this season, there was plenty of belief throughout the bye week that the duo would be able to produce when their numbers were called upon late in games.

“We knew we were going to have to step up being two receivers to step into that role,” Anderson said after the win. “And I didn't have any doubt in (Gibson). He didn't have any doubt in me.

“… I knew he was gonna make those plays. He knew I was gonna make those plays… It just kind of echos throughout the team. We all trust each other. And we all know we're gonna make those plays when it really counts.”

Veteran players like Drake Stoops and running back Marcus Major also gave the Sooners a boost in those pressure situations against UCF. The depth of play makers for OU’s offense has been key, as the Sooners have found ways to put points on the board when the game tightens up in the second half on multiple occasions this year.

SMU cut Oklahoma’s lead to 14-11 in the fourth quarter, and the Sooners responded with a 14-0 run.

OU put up 10 unanswered points on Cincinnati late, and Gabriel led the now famous touchdown drive to beat Texas in the Cotton Bowl to kick off October.

There is plenty to correct, especially in the running game, for Oklahoma’s offense ahead of next week’s trip to take on the Kansas Jayhawks. But the Sooners are already finding answers to make up for the loss of Anthony ahead of their crucial five-game stretch to end the regular season.

“I think a lot of the guys have stepped up,” Gabriel said. “We will find that, whether it's third downs, red zone, whatever it is. I think guys have stepped up, whether it's Nic, Drake or Jalil (Farooq) and on third down (Austin Stogner) as well.

“It's us coming together and finding ways to convert.”