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On Senior Day, Oklahoma Will Celebrate a Drake Stoops Legacy That Stands on Its Own
SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK

On Senior Day, Oklahoma Will Celebrate a Drake Stoops Legacy That Stands on Its Own

Originally posted on FanNation All Sooners
By Ryan Chapman  |  Last updated 11/22/23

Friday, Drake Stoops will step out onto Owen Field in an Oklahoma uniform for the final time.

From walk-on to crucial part of OU’s offense, Stoops has built a legacy that stands on its own.

When he hauls in a reception, the “STOOOOOPS!” chant that takes over Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium may have started in reverence to his father.

But now, it rings around Norman as a result of his accomplishments.

Stoops enters his final home game standing 11th on OU’s all-time leading reception list with 146 catches, just 11 balls behind DeMarco Murray and Antwone Savage, who are tied for ninth.

Against TCU, he may not make his way all the way into OU’s top 10, but his reception from fans on Senior Day will speak volumes.

“People see the tip of the iceberg and you catching balls on Saturday,” Stoops said on Monday. “They don’t know the offseason and the hard time and the doubt, everything that goes into being a college athlete.

“So (hearing my name) means a lot to me. 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 good and almost like vindication for a lot of hard work and adversity.”

Though the work ethic has always been apparent, it took years for Stoops to work his way up the depth chart.

He caught two passes as a true-freshman walk-on in 2018, before improving to eight receptions in 2019, then 15 catches in 2020 and 16 in 2021.

But last year he found another level.

Stoops set a new career-best with 39 grabs for 393 yards and three scores.

He became a bonafide third-down target for quarterback Dillon Gabriel, a bond he continued to build this past offseason.

“In the summer, it was just me and him,” Gabriel said earlier in November. “We had online school. Online school on the computers and then we’re in the indoor for however long. We’ve thrown a bunch together and I think it’s all coming to fruition. More importantly, just the competitor he is. I think it all shows in his play and his ability to make plays. Just who he is.”

In his final year with the Sooners, Stoops has flourished.

Through 11 games, he’s shattered his own career marks again, hauling in 66 receptions for 755 yards and nine scores.

After Andrel Anthony went down, Stoops was even more important.

He went for 134 yards and one score against Oklahoma State on 12 catches, and then improved to grab 10 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns a week later against West Virginia.

Stoops won’t have to surpass 200 receiving yards on Friday against the Horned Frogs to build on his legacy on Senior Day.

Simply helping the Sooners across the finish line would clinch a 10-win season regardless of whether Oklahoma qualifies for the Big 12 title game, ensuring an improvement of at least four wins over last year’s campaign.

That’s his primary focus this week, though he didn’t say he’s been thinking a bit about his final moments at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

“It’s in the back of my mind,” said Stoops, “but I’m really just trying to dial in and be intentional and be present each day and taking these practices with my teammates and just do all I can to get really and go out on the right note.”

Instead, he’s been trying to follow the lead of his head coach.

Brent Venables has consistently preached to “be where your feet are”, a message of living in the present and enjoying every moment of college with your teammates.

Stoops has embodied that this season, teeming with competitive fire each time he’s taken the field.

“The season’s been great,” Stoops said. “Want to finish it the right way for sure. … It doesn’t last forever and for me it went by really fast, so I’m just trying to get the most out of it and be prepared for Friday’s game against TCU.”

When his collegiate career wraps up, Stoops will have plenty of options ahead of him.

His brother, Isaac, is already enjoying a strong career outside of football.

The family business would put him right back on a sideline — a place he would no doubt be welcomed with open arms in but Stoops hopes to play the game he loves as long as life will allow him.

“I want to keep playing ball for sure,” he said. “Then we’ll see where I go from there. But I wouldn’t rule anything out.”

His father’s statue rests outside the south end of the stadium he comes to work in every day.

But Saturday, the Stoops that Oklahoma fans will be laser-focused on won’t be Bob, but instead Drake, as OU will honor one of the program’s most beloved seniors one last time.

And even in his final ride in Norman, Drake Stoops’ attention will be where it’s always been, trying to help his team win.

“I’ve never been one to think about myself a whole lot. But definitely want to finish this season the right way and send Team 129 on the right note, a positive note. Hopefully we win Saturday and get a 10-win season. … I think I’ll reflect a little down the road and definitely reminisce. It’ll be a melancholy experience. Kind of that ending of a good thing.”

This article first appeared on FanNation All Sooners and was syndicated with permission.

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