Mr. Reliable

BY: CHRIS PLANK

Oklahoma football needed someone to stand up and show there was still something to play for in 2023. Sooner fans needed to know that, despite heartbreaking back-to-back losses, it all still mattered, and the Sooners were not going to fade away. Much like his father did when the Sooners were left without a coach following the 2021 season, Drake Stoops stepped up and delivered the message that everyone needed to hear.

“For me, there’s a lot left to play for,” Drake said. “I bust my tail year-round for this, for six years now. So, I’m not listening to what people say. I don’t care if we’re 0-8 right now, I’m playing ball because I love to play football.

“I love my teammates. I love my coaches. I love the University of Oklahoma. I have a lot of pride in this place. So, I’m going to go hard every single day and do everything I possibly can to see us win.”

The Sooner Nation needed a spark, and during that media session after practice, the Sooner legend provided just that. Much like he did many times on the field.

The charge and challenge worked. Drake set career highs in two of his final three games and helped lead the Sooners to a 10-win season in his final season in a Sooner uniform.

OU DNA

Drake blazed his own path, and his final act was among the most impressive. From walkon to crucial part of OU’s offense, he built a legacy that stands on its own.

The path to Oklahoma was one that he knew well. His legendary father Bob Stoops is the all-time winningest coach at Oklahoma and football was always part of Drake’s life.

“Growing up in a coach’s family like I did, being around football all my life, gave me a different perspective on the game and the college football world,” Drake said. “Seeing my dad work so hard really instilled in me that I wanted to do that for myself, but I didn’t want to ride his coattails. I wanted to work hard myself and chase something within myself.”

Drake starred as a multi-sport athlete at Norman North, but on the gridiron is where he truly shined.

He finished his high school career with 201 catches for 3,390 yards and 39 touchdowns and, during his senior season, he caught 67 passes for 1,093 yards and 15 scores. He also helped lead Norman North to its second-ever State Championship game during his junior season when he caught 86 passes for 1,536 yards and scored 20 TDs.

Despite being viewed as undersized coming out of high school, Drake had several full scholarship offers to play college football including from his father’s alma mater Iowa. Other schools like Memphis, Ohio, Western Kentucky, and Air Force were interested, but he decided to bet on himself.

Drake spurned the scholarship offers and decided to walk on at the University of Oklahoma.

“That’s always been my goal to make my own name and do something with my own life,” Stoops said of growing up around Oklahoma football. “It was an incredible influence. Seeing what it looked like, how much it would take and watching the players and admiring them. They were superheroes to me.

“Now, being in that position, it’s definitely come full circle and I’m glad I had that growing up because it gave me a lot of perspective and a lot of insight on what it was going to take.”

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION

Drake caught a pass in his very first college football game. It came with 11:20 to go in the first half of a blowout win over Florida Atlantic. As soon as the catch was made the crowd roared with the chant of Stoooooooooops. The chat would stick and be a constant cheer every time he touched the football during his Sooner career.

“Hearing my name has always meant a lot to me,” Drake said of the chant. “Just embracing me like that. I don’t know — it’s made me my own man, and kind of stepping out of my dad’s shadow, which was hard for me early on in my career. It just feels almost like vindication for a lot of hard work and adversity.”

While the two catches during his first career game would be his only two catches of the season, it was historic. It’s believed to be the first and only time in Sooner history that a true freshman walk-on recorded a catch in a season opener. His reps and opportunities increased during his sophomore season, but he started to break out during his third season in a Sooner uniform. After missing the season opener in 2020, Drake registered his first career touchdown against Kansas State, finishing with a career high at the time of three catches for 93 yards.

But the most memorable moment of that season for Drake was his game-winning touchdown catch against Texas as the Sooners won in four overtimes. He finished the season with 15 catches for 219 yards and two scores. After receiving a scholarship before the 2021 season, Drake stayed consistent, catching 16 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns.

But adversity would hit in a way that no one could have imagined after the end of the 2021 regular season. Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma to take the head coach job at USC. Bob Stoops would return to serve as the interim coach for the Sooners in the Alamo Bowl game against Oregon. Bob Stoops would finally get to coach his boy.

Despite having retired before ever getting to coach Drake in a Sooner uniform, Bob Stoops finally got the opportunity and Drake made the most of it.

Drake scored a touchdown in the Sooners’ 47-32 triumph against the Ducks, adding to an experience that Bob Stoops described as “a chance of a lifetime.”

“It was really awesome,” Bob Stoops said after the Alamo Bowl. “What a chance of a lifetime to be on the field with my son one time and to win the game, but it was more than that. I have such an investment in the University of Oklahoma and OU football, so to help them finish the season in a positive way was really cool.”

Under a new head coach and a new offense, Drake saw a bigger role in the offense and started 10 games. He finished the season posting 39 catches for 393 yards and three touchdowns — all career highs.

“Just a baller,” Venables said. “Just always doing the little things right. Whether he’s cracking somebody to set up a run or a screenplay or making the third-down catch - making the extraordinary catch look ordinary - then his ability to run after the catch is different. He bounces off guys. He breaks a lot of tackles. He runs through trash, can make guys miss in a phone booth.

“His toughness and grit - that’s what you want in your whole program”

The strong finish to the 2022 season left Drake with a decision, play another season in the Crimson and Cream or take a shot at the NFL. Drake decided to return.

The son of a legend, who walked on to the school where his dad became a Hall of Famer, developed into a difference maker and an NFL prospect but chose to return for a sixth season.

FINISHING STRONG

Drake has caught passes from nine different quarterbacks during his time in a Sooner uniform. But no one clicked with Drake like Dillon Gabriel did. Heading into the Alamo Bowl, Drake has more touchdowns during the 2023 season than he did in his previous 5 years combined.

He’s also nearly doubled his career catches and yardage in one season alone.

“Drake is … he’s unreal, honestly. He’s always open. He’s a competitor. He’s my best friend,” Gabriel said. “The way he plays, it’s inspiring and it’s motivating and having a guy like him right by me is something I’m grateful for.”

In back-to-back games this season against Oklahoma State and West Virginia, Drake went over the 100-yard mark in receiving yards in a game for the first time in his career. In the loss to Oklahoma State, Drake caught 12 balls for 134 yards.

Against West Virginia, Drake caught 10 balls for a career-high 164 yards and scored a career-high three touchdowns in a statement win for the Sooners that sparked a 3-game winning streak to finish the season.

“He was one of them guys that did the dirty work, setting the example,” fellow receiver Jalil Farooq said. “He didn’t need no camera in front of him to put the work in.”

Drake finished with over 100 yards receiving in three of the last four games, setting and matching a career high for catches.

“He’s just tough,” Venables said. “People say he’s a coach’s kid, but he’s a fantastic football player. I think that’s discrediting all the work Drake has put into his career, his instincts, his consistency and his ability to make plays. He’s special. Players love being around him. I’m really thankful for what he brings to the locker room every single day.

“That’s who he’s been, man - Mr. Reliable.”

Drake’s season totals are even more impressive. He finished the regular season leading the Big 12 in receptions (78) and receiving touchdowns (10), and he also ranks second in receiving yards (880).

He is enjoying the best campaign of his six-year career. And even though it’s coming to an end, his legacy at OU continues to grow.

THE LEGACY

“He’s had to overcome a lot, one being a coach’s kid, right?” Venables said. “He walked on, but he never was bitter about the things that he’s had to overcome. He’s allowed his name and his opportunity to be a blessing. When it’s time to compete, he loves to compete and he doesn’t care who it’s against.”

The son of a legend has blazed his own path. His goal coming out of high school has been accomplished.

“He is OU football,” former Sooner offensive coordinator and current Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby said. “If I’m fortunate enough to be able to do this for 20-25 more years, I might not ever have the opportunity to coach a guy like Drake Stoops again. I’m just so proud of what he’s been able to accomplish.”

“He’s exhausting this moment in his life,” Venables said. “I love that. As opposed to hurrying up to get onto the next thing like everybody else tries to get you to do, he’s like, ‘No, college is too fun, and I’ve got a lot of developing still to do.’

“There are no mulligans. You get one chance. So, make the most of college, which, as we all know, is the most transformational time of your life. It’s going to be one of the most enriching times in your life and help propel you for the rest of your life. He’s got wisdom beyond his years.”

Drake is a five-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree and in 2022 was nominated for the Campbell Trophy, known as college football’s “academic Heisman.” He stays involved in the community and is active with many different charities including Meals on Wheels.

Drake did what he set out to do, in the shadow of one of the biggest names in the history of Oklahoma Sooner Football. He forged his own legacy, one that will serve as a foundation for years to come in the Oklahoma locker room and amongst Sooner fans.

“You don’t really know your impact and your legacy until you’re gone, and you look back,” Drake said. “I would want to be remembered as a good teammate, a good leader, someone that was always doing the right thing, whatever it takes to see his team win.”–BSM