What Deion Burks learned from last year
Deion Burks was the No. 1 available receiver in the transfer portal when he landed with OU in winter 2023, and there were high expectations for what the former Purdue wideout could accomplish with the Sooners.
Unfortunately for Burks, the 2024 campaign ended up a lost season. He managed just 245 yards and three touchdowns while missing eight games due to injury.
Burks also had off the field problems. He was arrested for DUI in summer 2024 and his parents’ Michigan home caught fire in November. All in all, last year was tough for Burks. But he’s looking to leave it in the past and rebound toward his NFL dreams with a strong 2025 season.
“Definitely last year didn’t go how I expected,” Burks said recently after practice. “I learned from it. It’s been great this year. I have no complaints.”
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Burks said he has tried to set the example for other transfers who’ve joined the Sooners ahead of the 2025 season.
Crimson Combine
Oklahoma wide receiver Deion Burks (4) catches a pass during the Crimson Combine at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Daniel Shular, Tulsa World
“Just coming in and not just checking off the box,” Burks said. “Giving the program more. That’s a mistake I kind of messed up when I first came last year, just trying to check boxes. Coming in, just giving more, listening to (strength coach Jerry Schmidt), just dialing in, everything will be fine.”
Burks has also been prioritizing his health and knowing when to back off.
“Everything is a challenge,” Burks said. “A lot of challenges I looked at as, I’ve got to take care of my body better. I can’t just put my all — just go out there and think I can just run like a machine. Maybe take my process more seriously and take care of my body.”
OU’s offense wasn’t very receiver friendly last year, with struggles on the offensive line and youth at quarterback, but Burks expects that to change this year with new coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer.
“Working with (them), it’s like a perfect duo,” Burks said. “They expect greatness. I expect greatness. So it’s been great at practice.”
Eddy Pierre-Louis brings intensity
By all accounts, offensive lineman Eddy Pierre Louis has made great strides this offseason. He didn’t play much as a freshman, but the game is starting to slow down for him.
One thing that hasn’t slowed down? Pierre-Louis’ trademark intensity. He showed just how hot he can run in OU’s win over Maine last year, when he picked up a personal foul for blocking through the whistle.
Crimson Combine
Oklahoma offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis (55) celebrates during the Crimson Combine at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Daniel Shular, Tulsa World
“That was the first game I really got to let it loose,” Pierre-Louis said. “And I was very mad that game, so I wanted to let it all out. That was the first time I really got to have a lot of reps. So I made every rep count. And also it was a good opportunity that I got to play with some of the other guys I’m playing with now. So we've been building that relationship connection.”
Pierre-Louis got some starting reps at left guard in the spring and early in fall camp. Whether he’ll be atop the depth chart at the start of the season remains to be seen. If nothing else, he can keep the offensive line’s fervor going by keeping up his own.
“I see it in the younger guys, like Ryan Fodje, also Mike Fasusi,” Pierre-Louis said. “All those younger guys, they bring in the energy as well. So every time I look at them, I'm like, ‘Yeah, them boys got that little dog in them.’ So each and every day, they’re bringing that attention. Each and every day, that's something that we gotta bring across the whole offensive line if we want to get to where we want to be.”
Jaren Kanak settled in at tight end
After playing linebacker his first three seasons at OU, Jaren Kanak made the move to tight end in the spring. He made some adjustments to his recovery strategy to account for more running on offense. Now he’s harping on tight end technique during fall camp.
“For three years, I’ve been learning how to be a linebacker and how to create separation and stay away from people,” Kanak said. “Then you switch over to tight end, that’s all about getting your hands on them, bringing them close, just different techniques about where to put your hands, the footwork and all that kind of stuff. So just really keying in on that technique and mastering that.”
Kanak was an offensive skill player in high school and teammates have said he looks natural with the pigskin in his hands. He doesn’t seem worried about catching the ball.
“Me and the guys spend as much time as we can on those Jugs (machines) and playing catch with John (Mateer) and just making it a habit to always catch the ball no matter what,” Kanak said. “And so tip drill, every ball is ours. Every ball in the air is ours.”
Oklahoma takes on Temple
Oklahoma linebacker Jaren Kanak (7) recovers a fumble and runs it into the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of a college football game against Temple at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Friday, August 30, 2024, in Norman, Okla. Daniel Shular, Tulsa World
Kanak is a smaller tight end at 6-foot-2, but he could still find a role in the offense. What he lacks in size, he makes up for in toughness.
“Being undersized at the position that I play, I kind of gotta bring that edge of having a little bit of grit to me and a little bit of aggression. And I have natural leverage as Coach (Joe Jon) Finley says. It’s a nice way of calling me short. But I have very natural leverage, so I can get up and under guys and really be physical with them.”
Kanak also brings comic relief to the tight end room.
“I was joking around with the trainers yesterday,” Kanak said. “It’s like everybody grew up with that short friend and he’s the funny guy. And so when I was in the linebacker room, I was the same height as everybody, so I wasn’t really funny. But now I’m the short guy in the room, so I have to be funny.”
Carson Kent rooms with John Mateer
When Kennesaw State transfer Carson Kent committed to OU out of the portal, he direct messaged quarterback John Mateer to see if they could room together in Norman. Mateer already had his housing settled but invited Kent to live with him.
How would Kent grade Mateer as a roommate?
Crimson Combine
Oklahoma tight end Carson Kent (86) runs the ball down the field during the Crimson Combine at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 12, 2025. Daniel Shular, Tulsa World
“He's a good cook,” Kent said. “I try to clean and do my fair share, but an underrated thing is that he's a good cook. … We'll do steak a lot. We'll do rice and steak. I'll make avocado toast. It's just a little appetizer. But he's pretty good on the grill. He'll make anything. Chicken, steak. It's really whatever he's feeling.”
Kent has also been building his receiving rapport with Mateer in hopes of being OU’s top tight end in the passing game.
“That's probably my best friend on the team,” Kent said of Mateer. “We get along. He's a great guy. We have a lot in common. We cut up a lot. It's been great living with him.”
mason.young@tulsaworld.com
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