Just 13 passes, or roughly one per game, have been caught by Oklahoma’s exceptional sophomore wide receiver Jayden Gibson this season. Nevertheless, he scored five touchdowns and averaged almost 28 yards per reception (373 yards overall). In each of the last three games for the Sooners, Gibson has found the end zone, including two
touchdowns vs BYU, a 55-yard bomb and a 27-yard run. Yet Dillon Gabriel was the source of those throws. Gibson tried to establish the same kind of relationship with Jackson Arnold for the most of the previous month. He has the ability to significantly shift the tide of the game in favour of the Sooners against the Wildcats in San Antonio if he can break loose once or twice.
Mason R. An ankle injury sustained during preseason camp was the cause of Thomas’ second season’s derailment. With the scrapes and bruises he had throughout the season, Thomas found it difficult to return to full game form even though he was on track to earn a starting position at defensive end. Thomas had time to appear as healthy as he has all season, and with over a month since OU’s previous game, he may have a significant influence by screaming in off the edge to put pressure on Arizona’s brilliant redshirt freshman quarterback Noah Fifita.
Caleb Shaffer, a redshirt senior offensive lineman, transferred from Miami-Ohio to OU over the offseason and has had limited appearances for the Sooners. During the last drive for the team, Bill Bedenbaugh went to Shaffer when McKade Mettauer exited the Red River Rivalry with an injury. Shaffer, however, had little action for the rest of the season after assisting Oklahoma in leading the team down the field against the Longhorns. Shaffer is listed as the starting guard for Oklahoma on the depth chart, with Cayden Green now attending Missouri. Oklahoma will have a strong opportunity against Arizona if Shaffer can hold up against the defensive line of the Arizona Sun Devils and keep defenders away from Jackson Arnold, Gavin Sawchuk, and the rest of the Sooners’ backfield.
