SoonerScoop video: Drake Stoops reflects on OU career
SoonerScoop.com has a new show, The Family Business. And on the first episode, co-hosts Joe Casitglione Jr. and Isaac Stoops, are joined by a special guest: OU wide receiver Drake Stoops.
Drake joined the show to discuss everything from his and Isaac’s day at Norman North High School to his historic career at Oklahoma to his preparation for the NFL Draft. He finished his Sooner career with 164 receptions, 1,876 yards and 17 touchdowns. Drake had the best season of his career in 2023, totaling a team-high 84 receptions, 962 yards and 10 touchdowns. And throughout his six-year career, he caught passes from nine different OU quarterbacks.
Drake Stoops on his legacy
Drake discusses all of this and more in the show. But maybe his most intriguing answer was the one he gave when asked what he hopes his legacy is at OU.
“For one, I hope to just be remembered as a good person, a good man,” Drake said. “Especially a good teammate in the locker room. A coachable player that would run through a brick wall for his teammates, his coaches and his university. Even just setting an example that like, the grass isn’t always greener on the side in this day of transfer portal and NIL money and all that. I spent six years here and there were plenty of times I contemplated — should I transfer or should I stay? The mind can become a doubtful place and trick you. And I just stuck to the process and I got better day-by-day, brick-by-brick.
“Instead of focusing on, ‘it’s the coaches’ fault’ or ‘it’s his fault,’ I looked inside, ‘What can I do better? How can I enhance my opportunities?’ And that’s what I did and obviously, it paid off. Just being committed to someone, having some stickwithitness and being loyal to the university and my teammates, my coaches — having a love for a place that loves you back and does everything and really kind of sets you up for life.
“So yeah, if I could just be remembered as a good guy, a football guy. Never needed much. Was always ready to do whatever it took. I’d lay down and let my teammates walk right over me for anything, you know? Take my shirt off my back.”
