'Big-time playmaker' Javonnie Gibson set to make OU debut vs. Kent State
NORMAN — The timetable is finally clear for Javonnie Gibson.
The former Arkansas-Pine Bluff receiver is set to make his OU debut this Saturday against Kent State (3 p.m. SECN). Gibson has been out since breaking his leg in April, which forced him to miss the end of spring, all of fall camp and the first four games of the season. The Sooners have had to make do without Gibson, who was emerging as arguably OU’s top option at wideout before the injury.
Now, the Sooners will have him back in the fold this weekend, and that should be a huge boost to the offense moving forward.
“First thing with Javonnie, I’m excited for him personally because the kid loves football and he loves being around the team,” OU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said Tuesday. “So just seeing how he handled himself during the injury and the whole process that that took, you can tell it really took a lot on him but he’s a very mature kid. He handles his business well.
“And so I’m just excited for him to get back playing the sport that he loves.”
Gibson should give the Sooners another much-needed weapon in the passing attack. He caught 70 passes last season for 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He was a big-play weapon, averaging 17.6 yards per reception with an average depth of target (ADOT) of 14.0 yards. He caught 15 passes with an ADOT over 20 yards, totaling 581 yards and seven touchdowns on those targets.
It was a tough rehab process for Gibson, but now the Sooners get to reintegrate him into the offense.
“He’s been awesome the last really month or so just in the final stages of that rehab process with the training staff, running at practice, getting extra catches in, getting great mental reps during practice,” Arbuckle said. “I’m excited for him to get re-acclimated into the game of football, get re-acclimated into the offense and really find his spot.
“I think he’s a big-time playmaker, I really do. We just got to get his football legs back under him, if you would. But the way that kid works and the way he approaches everything is awesome. So I’m excited to see Javonnie get back out there on the field.”
Even without Gibson, the Sooners’ passing offense has found some success. The Sooners rank 17th nationally in passing yards (305 per game) and tied for 12th in passing plays of 20-plus yards (22). Isaiah Sategna has really emerged, totaling 224 yards over the last two weeks, while Deion Burks and Keontez Lewis have been steady options.
But there’s belief that Gibson’s return could tie everything together for OU’s wideouts.
“I’ve been really proud of Javonnie, just for his consistency,” OU coach Brent Venables said. “He’s attacked the rehab over the last several months, and he hasn’t flinched. He’s just refused to flinch. He stayed right on schedule, and probably, if the doctors were to tell you, he’s slightly ahead of the schedule. Hasn’t had any setbacks along the way. It’s been fun to watch him get back out there with the guys and watch his teammates really just encourage him and pull for him and celebrate some of the successes he’s had the last few weeks.
“This will be an opportunity for him to catch up quickly with everybody else. I’m just really proud of him for staying on schedule and all of the work that he’s put in, he’s had to go through a lot. A lot of things to overcome, amazing family and their support. To get him to this point, this week, I’m excited to see him get his first touch.”
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