ESPN thinks this Oklahoma player could be a sleeper this year

USA Today

2 days ago

The Oklahoma Sooners are in desperate need of a bounce-back campaign in 2025. A dismal offensive showing in OU's first season in the SEC led to a 6-7 overall record and a 2-6 mark in conference play.
One of the many reasons that Oklahoma had so much trouble moving the ball on offense was the wide receiver play. OU's top five projected receivers missed all or most of the 2024 season due to injury. That forced backups and true freshmen to step into roles they weren't ready for, and the Oklahoma passing game crumbled.
Wide receiver certainly wasn't the only problem on an offense full of them, but it's an area that has to improve along with the rest of the offense in 2025.
ESPN believes there's a player at this position on the Sooners roster who isa bit under the radar that can help OU right the ship. A handful of ESPN's college football writers identified sleeper players for each of their preseason top 25 teams. For Oklahoma, who came in at No. 25 in the rankings, they chose sophomore wide receiver Zion Kearney.
The Sooners were besieged with injuries at the receiver position last season, and some of their more talented pass catchers hit the transfer portal, including Nic Anderson. With new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and his Air Raid offense coming to Norman, that means Oklahoma will utilize even more receivers. Kearney, a true sophomore, has a chance to make a big jump after playing as a backup in 11 games as a freshman. He has the size (6-1, 207 pounds) and speed (4.28 40-yard dash in high school) to be a staple in the Sooners' passing game, especially with John Mateer stepping in at quarterback. - Chris Low, ESPN.
Kearney wasn't ready to play the kind of snaps he did in 2024, but all of that experience is a good learning opportunity for him. The Sooners and wide receivers coach Emmett Jones remade the position group in the transfer portal this offseason, and Kearney was one of a handful of players who decided to stick around in Norman.
Kearney also had a nice performance in OU's Armed Forces Bowl loss against Navy. He posted his most receiving yards of the season and his only career touchdown on a scramble drill play from Michael Hawkins Jr. He also managed four catches against Texas back in October.
With a lot of question marks and some lingering injury concerns for OU's wide receiver group heading into fall camp, Kearney could be a surprise player to watch in his second season as a Sooner.
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