You have to sift through the information that comes from Big 12 Media Days in order to find the nuggets that are really worth attention. Everybody, except Kansas who didn’t even come to Arlington, feels like they have a chance to compete for the title. Texas is given way too much preseason credit without having actually earned it on the field and, according to coach speak, there should be about four Heisman candidates in the conference. Just about anyone could pretty much sum up those storylines from the last 10 years without even opening a paper or clicking a link. That said, Lincoln Riley did drop a news nugget on Wednesday that should make every fan of the crimson and cream smile from ear to ear. Theo Wease is, “full-go” as the coach put it, meaning he’s completely recovered from whatever injury plagued him during spring ball.
The former 5-star recruit was the source of concern in the spring after an injury had him in a boot and a non-participant in the annual spring game. After tying for a team-high 37 catches, and scoring four touchdowns, it is hoped that Wease would have a career season in 2021. That’s why there was concern about his injury in the spring, especially in light to Trejan Bridges being dismissed from the team. Riley said on Wednesday that not only should fans not worry about him, but that they could expect to possibly see the best version of Wease yet this fall.
“He’s had a really good summer,” Riley said. “Just got cleared up probably two weeks ago, so he’s full-go now. And he honestly looks as explosive as he ever has, if not more.”
Not being completely limited from training with the injury, Wease was able to work on some things that should translate to an even more improved player in year three, after averaging 14.3 yards per reception in 2020. That’s even better news for a receiving corps that returns Marvin Mims and has added Arkansas transfer Mike Woods to the depth chart.
“It was kind of one of those things where… he was able to train in some of the areas that have been weaknesses for him in the past,” Riley said during his media session on Wednesday. “So I think it was, in a way, a really good thing for him. It feels like things are kind of starting to line up for him, in a way. Excited to have him back, and he’s had a really, really good summer.”
It wasn’t just his head coaching praising him from Arlington though. Linebacker Nik Bonito even gave him a shoutout during his time at the microphone on Wednesday.
“A guy on the offense that I took notice of, because he was making plays all over this spring when he was playing, was Theo Wease,” Bonitto said. “And he’s come back now, and things that he’s doing, he’s on a different level.”
Oklahoma is a preseason favorite to win the Big 12 for a seventh consecutive season and compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff. It goes without saying that Theo Wease should be a key to the Sooners achieving that level of success.
Follow us on Twitter: @SportsHeartland