‘Seamless’ transition for returning Sooners TE Austin Stogner
With Brayden Willis leaving the Oklahoma Sooners for the NFL Draft, the offense needed a big, dependable target to rely on. They got one in the transfer portal when South Carolina Gamecocks tight end Austin Stogner announced that he would be coming back to OU.
Any Sooners fans who owned their very own Austin Stogner jersey were no doubt thrilled when they heard the news that he would be returning from South Carolina. Even in this transfer portal era, a player returning to a school that he transferred from a year prior is pretty unheard of.
Transferring can bring a long adjustment period, but according to Brent Venables, Stogner isn’t having a hard time getting acclimated to his new environment.
He’s really happy to be back,” Venables said of Stogner’s return.”And I think he’s in a comfortable place. I think he enjoyed his time at South Carolina, and maybe something that he needed in, you know, in that time of his life.
“I think it gave him an opportunity to, to have the right perspective about this opportunity here at the University of Oklahoma and being close with his family and having an opportunity to be in this type of system to highlight, quote, unquote, you know, his ability in the use of our tight end.”
Stogner has the athleticism and could finally receive a full complement of snaps to have a breakout season for the Sooners in 2023. But it’s not simply the things he can do that provide excitement for what could be a big year for Stogner. It’s also the stuff he does off the field in preparation for the season.
“He’s a worker,” Venables continued. “He’s a tough guy. He’s got a lot of juice and energy when it comes to competing.”
With Willis gone and the Sooners young at the tight end position, Oklahoma needed a veteran presence to lead the unit in 2023. Stogner has the benefit of familiarity with Joe Jon Finley to give him the opportunity to have a big year in the passing game.
In addition to Willis, the Sooners have to find a way to replace Marvin Mims’ production. With a lot of new and unproven faces in the wide receiver room and a new WR coach in Emmett Jones, Dillon Gabriel will need a security blanket to get the ball to as other targets emerge.
Stogner is no doubt looking for a similar draft stock-boosting year that Brayden Willis got in 2022. With Willis gone, the top tight end spot on the depth chart is up for grabs.
With experience in Norman, Stogner was able to come in and hit the ground running. That should provide the right environment for everything to come together for Stogner in 2023.
“Obviously had previous relationships with some guys,” Venables shared about the move. “A lot of guys are gone, but he’s just very comfortable. Easy, seamless transition for him thus far.”
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