Oklahoma WR Elijah Thomas Poised for Bigger Role in Sophomore Season

The versatile wide receiver made an impact on special teams as a freshman and could see more offensive opportunities in 2026.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 8:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football player in motion, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the player's dynamic movements on the field.Elijah Thomas' versatility and impact on special teams as a freshman has Oklahoma coaches excited about his potential to become a playmaker on offense in 2026.Norman Today

Elijah Thomas, a true freshman wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2025, played a significant role on special teams last season, recording seven solo tackles. Though he caught only one pass for five yards on offense, the coaching staff believes Thomas' development this offseason will allow him to get more opportunities on the offensive side of the ball in 2026.

Why it matters

Thomas' versatility and ability to contribute on special teams as a freshman is a positive sign for the Sooners, who are looking to replace several key offensive weapons from last year's team. If Thomas can translate his special teams success to the offense, he could become a valuable weapon for the Sooners in 2026.

The details

Thomas, a former 4-star prospect from Checotah, Oklahoma, played both wide receiver and safety in high school before coming to OU to play receiver. His ability to make tackles on special teams impressed the coaching staff, with special teams coordinator Doug Deakin praising Thomas' versatility and coachability. While Thomas made some mistakes early on, he was able to learn from them and become a consistent performer. Head coach Brent Venables believes Thomas' development this offseason will allow him to get more opportunities on offense in 2026, as the wideout was still 'technically savvy' as a freshman.

  • Thomas appeared in all 13 of Oklahoma's games in 2025, his freshman season.
  • Thomas recorded seven solo tackles on special teams in 2025.

The players

Elijah Thomas

A wide receiver for the Oklahoma Sooners who played a significant role on special teams as a freshman in 2025.

Doug Deakin

The special teams coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners, who praised Thomas' versatility and coachability.

Brent Venables

The head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, who believes Thomas' development this offseason will allow him to get more opportunities on offense in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“He made me a good coach because of how he could close the ball carriers as a tackler. Him being a two-way… safety and receiver in high school, that was a big plus because it showed up in drill work right away.”

— Doug Deakin, Special Teams Coordinator

“Maybe (he) wasn't technically savvy on how to play receiver, how to get open, understanding coverages and route conversions, things like that.”

— Brent Venables, Head Coach

“ET has done a really good job. He's in a much better place than he was a year ago.”

— Brent Venables, Head Coach

What’s next

Thomas will likely be a key special teams player again for the Sooners in 2026, but the coaching staff is hopeful that his development this offseason will allow him to take on a larger role on offense as well.

The takeaway

Elijah Thomas' ability to contribute on special teams as a freshman is a positive sign for the Sooners, and if he can translate that success to the offensive side of the ball, he could become a valuable weapon for Oklahoma in 2026.