The Dean's List: Mead Brings Size, Swagger To Receiving Corps

Dean went one-on-one with sophomore receiver Jeffery Mead, who brings size to Oklahoma's receiving corps.

Wednesday, September 2nd 2015, 5:16 pm



Jeffrey Mead is a perfect example of where the OU wide receiver position has developed since the end of the dreaded 2014 campaign, where completing downfield passes became as challenging as memorizing the Chinese dictionary. Backwards.

I’ll write a separate blog on the importance of the Sooners making chunk plays  -- or explosive plays of twenty yards or more – and how it looks to me like they are light years ahead of last year in this critical aspect of offense. In short, think back to the glory days of this offense under the direction of Josh Heupel, Jason White, Sam Bradford and Landry Jones. Yes, those teams racked up tons of points. But they also featured explosive plays, where the downfield throws on routes including digs, posts, corners, go-balls and deep outs were completed with such consistency that it looked routine. We saw last year when the scheme was not the best, the quarterback had his struggles and a limited set of receivers lost its go-to guy, that never should anyone take for granted the skill it takes to shorten the field by picking up explosive plays.

Sophomore receiver Jeffrey Mead is expected to contribute significantly to the explosive play category with his speed, range, athleticism and outstanding pass-catching ability. Mead typifies the change from 2014 to 2015, beginning with height. The Tulsa Union product is 6-6 and is joined by other receivers who will give Baker Mayfield a bigger target than Trevor Knight had much of last season when he worked a lot with the 5-9 Sterling Shepard, 5-11 Durron Neal, 6-0 maybe – Michiah Quick and 6-0 KJ Young. OU recruited taller and longer targets and Mead will be joined by the 6-6  Mark Andrews, 6-5 Dallis Todd, 6-2 Jordan Smallwood, 6-5 true frosh AD Miller, 6-5 TR Frosh Dahu Green and 6-2 running back/receiver Joe Mixon. DeDe Westbrook has the body fat of a tire iron and can’t be carrying more than 165 pounds, but even he’s listed at 6-1.

Check out this brief interview with the colorful Mead. Here’s to hoping he becomes a star, if for nothing else than he’s a guy with some style, charisma, and…..uh, shall I say some swag. 

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