End of an era for Oklahoma football as Drake Stoops plays last game as a Sooner

Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Drake Stoops poses for a photo with his father, former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, and his mother, Carol Stoops, during Senior Day before a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Oklahoma won 69-45.

The 2023 Valero Alamo Bowl will end an era for the Oklahoma Sooners football program: having a Stoops on the sideline.

However, like father like son, the love for Oklahoma football is a family affair. Drake Stoops, also known as ‘Bob’s Boy,’ is the son of Bob Stoops, a coach who holds the record for the most wins in Oklahoma’s history. Despite receiving scholarship offers from Air Force, Iowa, Memphis, Ohio, and Western Kentucky, Drake chose to begin his college football career as a walk-on for the Sooners in 2018.

Drake Stoops career at Oklahoma

Football is a staple and runs in the Stoops veins, and Drake didn’t stay in his father’s shadow for too long.

During the 2018 season opener against Florida Atlantic, Stoops caught two passes for 16 yards in his first game as a true freshman walk-on for the Sooners, making Stoops the first walk-on to record a catch in a season opener.

In 2019, Stoops played in all games as a reserve receiver and punt returner. He recorded eight receptions for 95 yards.

Stoops was celebrated and awarded an athletics scholarship on the field right after the Sooners 2021 spring game, making it clear that he earned his right to wear the Oklahoma uniform.

During the final season for Stoops in 2023, he started 12 games and finished the regular season with 78 receptions for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns. Stoops played a critical role in helping the Sooners find the end zone. Stoops was also one of the three finalists for the prestigious…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/end-era-oklahoma-football-drake-181814216.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2023-12-28 18:18:14

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.