tense conclusion After playing for North Texas under OU offensive coordinator Seth Littrell and making a contribution at Baylor the previous year, Jake Roberts has finally returned to Norman.
When Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley needed help rebuilding Oklahoma’s tight end room, Littrell had a familiar face in mind. OU’s new offensive brain trust tapped up Baylor transfer Jake Roberts, who has plenty of built-in familiarity with both life in Norman and the offensive staff. Before arriving in Waco, the Norman North High School graduate left Norman for North Texas — where he developed and played a key role under Littrell.
Roberts was with the Mean Green from 2020-2022 before landing at Baylor last year. His role in the offense under Littrell grew every year, culminating in 2022 when he pulled down 28 catches for 394 yards and three scores.
Then, in his only year as a Bear, Roberts caught 23 balls for 231 yards and a score, proving his production could translate to the Big 12. The Sooners had to turn over their tight end room this offseason after Austin Stogner graduated and both Jason Llewellyn and Blake Smith entered the portal, clearing a spot for Roberts to not only come in and immediately contribute, but also help mentor the rest of Finley’s position group which is flush with young talent.
“I think Jake will be such a great fit for that role,” Brett Vito, who covers North Texas for the Denton Record-Chronicle, told AllSooners. “Because, I mean, he’s a guy that has a ton of experience. He’s been at two different programs and he’s been a quality player everywhere he’s ever been.” Roberts could be poised to split time with talented freshman Davon Mitchell, who reclassified to sign with Oklahoma in the 2024 recruiting class.
Additionally, Roberts has effectively divided time with other talented teammates before.
Roberts and Var’keyes Gumms, another tight end from North Texas, tormented the defenses of the opposition.
Gumms was also quite productive while learning under Littrell; in 2022, he caught 34 catches for 458 yards and five touchdowns.
After being named to The Athletic’s second-team Freshman All-American team in 2022, Gumms transferred to Arkansas in 2023. He played the position similarly to a wide receiver, with Roberts handling a lot of the grunt work over the middle and at the line of scrimmage.
Vito remarked, “He’s kind of like one of your traditional, complete tight ends.” “The man is an effective blocker. He’s an effective receiver.
In an offense loaded with Power 5 talent, Roberts continued to eat.
In addition to Gumms, Jyaire Shorter, the second-best receiver from North Texas in 2022, transferred to Auburn in 2023.
Roberts finished third in receptions and fourth in yards despite Littrell’s system spreading the ball among seven different pass catchers who had at least 300 receiving yards.
Then, in 2023, Roberts adapted to a new environment with ease.
With 231 yards, he was fourth on Baylor’s team. He also had the fifth-most catches (23), and he scored a touchdown against Cincinnati.
Although OU’s offense won’t exactly mirror North Texas’ 2022 squad due to Littrell and Finley’s teamwork, Roberts won’t require much time to get acclimated to his coaches.
Vito remarked, “He’s in a comfortable situation.” “The offensive coordinator is Seth. Seth is the one person who will know that guy the best.
“.. He also has the added benefit of being a really nice guy who manages himself extremely well, which is something else he’ll provide.
Roberts, in addition to Mitchell, Kaden Helms, Kaden McIntyre, and transfer Bauer Sharp from Southeastern Louisiana, has the ability to play a variety of roles for the Sooners in 2024.
Vito stated, “Put him in at tight end; he’ll handle the edge pretty well.” “He’s shown he can succeed and serve as a mentor to some of those young guys.”
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