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Transfer Talk: What Oklahoma is Getting in TE Jake Roberts

Tight end Jake Roberts finally made it back to Norman after playing under OU offensive coordinator Seth Littrell at North Texas and contributing last year at Baylor.

Ryan Chapman

Transfer Talk: What Oklahoma is Getting in TE Jake Roberts
Transfer Talk: What Oklahoma is Getting in TE Jake Roberts /
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When Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley needed help rebuilding Oklahoma’s tight end room, Littrell had a familiar face in mind.

OU’s new offensive brain trust tapped up Baylor transfer Jake Roberts, who has plenty of built-in familiarity with both life in Norman and the offensive staff.

Before arriving in Waco, the Norman North High School graduate left Norman for North Texas — where he developed and played a key role under Littrell.

Roberts was with the Mean Green from 2020-2022 before landing at Baylor last year.

His role in the offense under Littrell grew every year, culminating in 2022 when he pulled down 28 catches for 394 yards and three scores.

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Then, in his only year as a Bear, Roberts caught 23 balls for 231 yards and a score, proving his production could translate to the Big 12.

The Sooners had to turn over their tight end room this offseason after Austin Stogner graduated and both Jason Llewellyn and Blake Smith entered the portal, clearing a spot for Roberts to not only come in and immediately contribute, but also help mentor the rest of Finley’s position group which is flush with young talent.

“I think Jake will be such a great fit for that role,” Brett Vito, who covers North Texas for the Denton Record-Chronicle, told AllSooners. “Because, I mean, he’s a guy that has a ton of experience. He’s been at two different programs and he’s been a quality player everywhere he’s ever been.”

Roberts could be poised to split time with talented freshman Davon Mitchell, who reclassified to sign with Oklahoma in the 2024 recruiting class.

And it wouldn’t be the first time Roberts has successfully split time with another talented teammate.

Roberts combined with fellow North Texas tight end Var’keyes Gumms to torment opposing defenses.

Under Littrell’s tutelage Gumms also had plenty of production, catching 34 passes for 458 yards and five scores in 2022.

Gumms, who transferred to Arkansas in 2023 after earning second-team Freshman All-American honors from The Athletic in 2022, played the position like a wide receiver while Roberts did plenty of the dirty work both at the line of scrimmage and across the middle.

“He’s kind of, you know, one of your traditional, complete tight ends,” Vito said. “The guy’s a good blocker. … He’s a good receiver.”

Roberts still ate in an offense flush with Power 5 talent.

FB - Jake Roberts, North Texas Mean Green
Jake Roberts thrived under Seth Littrell at North Texas, posting a career year in 2022 in an offense that did an excellent job of spreading the football around.  :: Tim Heitman / USA TODAY Sports

Not only did Gumms end up at Arkansas, but North Texas’ second-leading receiver from 2022, Jyaire Shorter, ended up at Auburn in 2023.

Littrell’s offense spread the ball around, with seven different pass catchers logging at least 300 receiving yards, and still Roberts finished fourth on the team in yards and third in receptions.

Then in less familiar surroundings in 2023, Roberts got acclimated quickly.

He finished fourth on Baylor's team with 231 yards and was fifth in catches (23), also grabbing a score against Cincinnati.

The collaboration between Littrell and Finley will mean OU’s offense won’t perfectly resemble North Texas’ 2022 unit, but Roberts won’t need an extended period learning his coaches.

“He’s got a comfortable situation,” Vito said. “Seth’s the offensive coordinator. Nobody’s going to know that guy better than Seth.

“… And the thing with him too is he’s just such a good dude and he handles himself so well, that that’s the other advantage; the other thing he’ll bring.”

Alongside Mitchell, Kaden Helms, Kaden McIntyre and Southeastern Louisiana transfer Bauer Sharp, Roberts has the potential to do a bit of everything for the Sooners in 2024.

“Stick him out there at tight end and he’s going to handle the edge pretty well,” Vito said. “He’s already proven he can do it and kind of be a mentor for some of those young guys.”

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Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is deputy editor at AllSooners and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

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