Oklahoma WR Andrel Anthony Gaining More Confidence With Each Big Play

Michigan transfer Anthony will help stretch opposing defenses for Sooners.

NORMAN — In a room full of talented pass catchers, Oklahoma junior Andrel Anthony is creating separation.

Anthony, a speedy transfer from Michigan who enrolled at OU in January, turned heads in the Sooners' first scrimmage with two long touchdowns.

“He’s done well. Had some big plays in the scrimmage," head coach Brent Venables said Monday after practice. "Another big play out here today (at practice). He’s gaining more and more confidence every day that he practices."

Anthony made some big plays during his time at Michigan, where he played in 26 of 28 games over two seasons and caught  19 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns. 

His first career reception went for 93 yards and a touchdown against Michigan State in 2021, the second-longest passing play from scrimmage in school history.

That season he also recovered a fumble in the end zone for a TD against Nebraska and caught a 35-yard touchdown pass against Georgia in the CFP Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl.

Anthony said competing for a national championship "really set the standard of where I want to be at every year.

"The coaches and the players, they really emphasize that," he said. "Yeah, we want to win the Big 12 and we want to go to the playoffs, and me knowing how good that feels to be in Miami, to be in that situation, it's amazing.

"To be able to compete for, to go to the national championship, I want to do that every year, so that's why I'm here."

Anthony said he's grown more comfortable with the offense and quarterback Dillon Gabriel during fall camp. 

"It's definitely progressed a lot over the summer," he said of his relationship with Gabriel, "just those player-led (practices), those workouts. "We'll do stuff on the weekends, after practice. It's just the timing and all that is really coming together right now."

Asked about his big showing at Saturday's scrimmage, Anthony gave Gabriel all the credit.

"Well, I'd just say that the quarterback play really played a big factor into it, just because the balls were like ... you couldn't ask for a better pass," he said. "That's going to be huge moving forward. I'd say I give credit mostly to the quarterback, because I might have a step, but he'll put it to where only I can get it. I can't ask for anything else."

Anthony is also becoming better acquainted with receivers Jaquaize Pettaway, a freshman, and Brenen Thompson, a sophomore transfer from Texas. The trio of newcomers is looking to play significant minutes this season in offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby's fast-paced system.

"I hang out with Brenen all the time and Jaquaize, he's funny. We all get along pretty well," Anthony said. "It's funny because they were both stressing over the playbook, as I was, too, when I got here in the spring. I was telling them, 'Just view it bit by bit every day and soon you'll tie in that this goes with this, (that) this is the same play but the slot (receiver) is different. It's just being ... not stressing out about it and just knowing that in time it will come."

Anthony said OU's receiving corps — a mix of size and speed and experience — is going to be special.

"I'm excited about everybody in the room because since I've been here, I've seen the growth that everybody's had, and it's like ... wow! I know we're going to be special."

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