Oklahoma Sooners

NORMAN, Okla. -- Wide receivers coach Jay Norvell weighed in Tuesday on his freshman receivers.

On Sterling Shepard: “Sterling has had a very good camp. He’s got really good quickness. He’s got good strength and he’s learning how to play against college corners, which is a challenge because they’re strong and physical. He’s learning how to find space in our offense and work with Landry. He’s had a good camp.”

On Durron Neal: “Durron Neal is strong and explosive for a freshmen football player. It’s the same thing, he’s learning how to be a receiver and run routes and get open and make plays consistently versus college cornerbacks. That’s not easy especially when we’ve got pretty good corners. He’s had a good camp.”

On Derrick Woods: “Derrick Woods has had some bumps and bruises and he’s fighting through that but he’s shown quickness, speed and playmaking abilities as well.”

And on Trey Metoyer: “He’s had a good camp but the challenge is to go out there every day and play at the highest level and to try and do all the little things better than everybody else. Until they do that, he ain’t ready. He’s just got to continue to push himself and that’s the challenge. That’s the challenge of training camp.”

NORMAN, Okla. -- It’s early in Oklahoma’s preseason camp, but the Sooners' young receivers are already making good impressions on their coaches and teammates.

True freshmen Durron Neal and Sterling Shepard have looked good, Derrick Woods is progressing and junior college transfer LaColtan Bester seems to be making a smooth transition into the program after arriving just days before camp began.

Offensive coordinator Josh Heupel likes what he sees from the Sooners receiving corps. He summarized his initial impressions during OU media day on Saturday.

“With what’s happened the first two days, with them understanding conceptually what we’re trying to run, not doing it perfectly but having an idea of where we want to get them, how we want to run, get technique, you can tell they’ve paid attention and studied and handled themselves the right way in June and July,” Heupel said.

Their physical abilities are what attracted the Sooners initially but it has been their mental approach which gives Heupel confidence they could help OU in 2012.

“I like the competitiveness, I like the toughness, I like the attention to detail, the way they walk into the building and their approach to every day,” he said. “If they can continue on that path we have a chance for a lot of young talent to help us this fall. ... We certainly need them to.”

Finding a way to create additional depth at receiver became a high priority for Oklahoma after the Sooners suspended receivers Jaz Reynolds and Trey Franks on May 20.

Those suspensions changed the life of LaColton Bester, who went from unsigned receiver prospect to signing with OU in a matter of weeks. At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Bester brings excellent size to the Sooners receiving corps. And he has OU’s head coach excited about his ability.

“LaColton is a strong, big player,” Bob Stoops said. “He has size, he has strength. He’s just what we needed to be honest with you. We felt incredibly lucky to have a chance to be in position with him. I think he’s going to do really well.”

Bester joins Durron Neal, Sterling Shepard, Courtney Gardner, Derrick Woods and Trey Metoyer as signees at receiver since February.

“We feel very fortunate to be in a position to sign him,” Stoops said. “It worked out really well. I think he has great potential. We’re excited about him.”