Mason Young
Tulsa World OU Sports Reporter
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NORMAN — Javonnie Gibson is slated to make his long-awaited Oklahoma debut when the Sooners face Kent State at 3 p.m. Saturday.
The transfer receiver from Arkansas-Pine Bluff was the talk of spring practice before breaking his leg. Now fully recovered, he has the chance to be an impact player for the latter two thirds of OU’s 2025 campaign.
“I’m excited for him personally because the kid loves football and he loves being around the team,” offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said Tuesday. “So just seeing how he handled himself during the injury and the whole process that that took. You can tell it really took a lot on him but he’s a very mature kid. He handles his business well. And so I’m just excited for him to get back playing the sport that he loves.
“He’s been awesome the last really month or so just in the final stages of that rehab process with the training staff, running at practice, getting extra catches in, getting great mental reps during practice. I’m excited for him to get reacclimated into the game of football, get reacclimated into the offense and really find his spot. I think he’s a big-time playmaker, I really do. We just got to get his football legs back under him, if you would.”
Throughout the offseason, when asked about Gibson, head coach Brent Venables has always maintained that the 2024 FCS All-American has stayed right on schedule with his rehab.
Gibson has also been on the sideline for every game this season and has been noticeably engaged with his Sooners teammates.
“He just has a great maturity and toughness about him,” Venables said Tuesday. “He’s been super consistent when it comes to the rehab and there are a lot of emotional challenges that a lot of young people go through. He’d be the first one to admit, I don’t want to speak for him, because I’m always trying to be on the positive side of it with him, but he’s been fantastic. He’s received that well. I haven’t seen anything other than that, but I’m sure if you gave him truth serum, he’d say, ‘Man, I had some tough days and tough moments along the way.’
“But I’ve been really proud of Javonnie, just again for his consistency. He’s attacked the rehab over the last several months, and he hasn’t flinched. He’s just refused to flinch. He stayed right on schedule, and probably, if the doctors were to tell you, he’s slightly ahead of the schedule. Hasn’t had any setbacks along the way. It’s been fun to watch him get back out there with the guys and watch his teammates really just encourage him and pull for him and celebrate some of the successes he’s had the last few weeks. Just being back out there, that’s a very innocent space that I just have a great appreciation for.”
The 6-foot-2, 211-pound Gibson has a different body type than the Sooners’ other primary pass catchers. He’s bigger than Deion Burks, Isaiah Sategna and Keontez Lewis. Gibson’s the same height as Lewis but slightly thicker.
Gibson’s also as tall as stud tight end Jaren Kanak, but where Kanak wins by getting open in space, Gibson seems more likely to beat defenders with his wingspan. His length presents a new weapon for OU to harness.
“I don’t think that’s fair to compare it to what we don’t have because I love our group of receivers,” Venables said, “but I do think it’s a big body guy. That’s what I saw of him in live work over several weeks, even months during the winter time, is a guy that can make a lot of competitive plays in really tight coverage.
“He’s got a tremendous catch radius, very strong hands. He’s got the innate ability to bring the ball all the way in and finish the play with strength at the top of the route. And tremendous body control, run after the catch, can break tackles. He’s always open.”
According to Venables’ information, OU is one of just three teams nationally with four receivers averaging 50 yards per game. Against Kent State and for the rest of the season, adding Gibson to that mix should only make the Sooners’ passing attack more potent.
“This will be an opportunity for him to catch up quickly with everybody else,” Venables said of Gibson. “Again, I’m just really proud of him for staying on schedule and all of the work that he’s put in. He’s had to go through a lot. A lot of things to overcome, amazing family and their support. To get him to this point, this week, I’m excited to see him get his first touch.”
mason.young@tulsaworld.com
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Mason Young
Tulsa World OU Sports Reporter
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