NORMAN, Okla. (AP) It was August 2001 and the Oklahoma players
thought the freshman receiver with the sinewy build, huge hands and
sprinter's speed seemed ready to emerge as a star.
Instead, Brandon Jones took his time.
``I wasn't thinking the whole time that I would be starting,''
Jones said. ``We had a lot of other good guys, so I just sat back
and played my part.''
Now, as a junior, Jones is becoming the receiver everyone
thought he could be. He's the top offensive threat for the No. 1
Sooners, ranking ninth in the nation in receptions per game (8) and
second on the team in scoring (3 TDs) behind kicker Trey DiCarlo.
Jones' performance through the first three games 24 catches
for 282 yards hasn't surprised any of his coaches or teammates.
They simply want to know why it didn't happen before.
``The reasons why it took him until now, I can't say,'' coach
Bob Stoops said. ``But for whatever reason he's finally competing
and finding more ways to make plays.''
With his size (6-foot-3, 208 pounds) and speed (he runs a 4.41
in the 40), Jones was a physical marvel from the time he arrived on
campus as a highly touted recruit out of Texarkana, Texas. He had
just spurned a chance to play in the New York Yankees' farm system
after being selected in the amateur draft.
Receiver Mark Clayton, also a junior, shakes his head as he
remembers those first few practices after Jones reported with the
other freshmen.
``He could jump over anybody, catch anything with one hand,''
Clayton said. ``It didn't matter who was on him. He was raw.''
But Jones struggled to pick up the Sooners' spread offense and
caught only nine passes his first two seasons, playing mostly
behind upperclassmen Antwone Savage and Curtis Fagan.
As his playing time fluctuated, his confidence plummeted.
``We struggled with him because he wasn't coming through fast
enough,'' offensive coordinator Chuck Long said. ``We get impatient
with talented guys. But we had to step back and say, 'Look, he's
still a young player and he's still learning. As soon as he learns
everything, his confidence will get better.' And that's what
happened.''
Jones noticed the change in himself over the past summer. He was
working harder than ever before and preparing not just for a
starting role, but a starring one.
``It was everything conditioning, running routes and getting
prepared in terms of learning the offense,'' Jones said. ``I wanted
to be a part of this team and contribute to us winning.''
Jones has been quarterback Jason White's favorite target this
season, catching touchdowns of 46 and 47 yards the latter a score
that broke open a close game against Alabama. He's also provided
plenty of highlights by plucking seemingly errant passes out of the
air with hands the size of catcher's mitts.
``He's always open,'' White said. ``You can see how hard he
worked over the summer.''
And if Jones continues to build on those considerable physical
talents, Long thinks he could get drafted in another professional
sport.
``He's one of the best I've seen at this level,'' Long said.
``He has NFL potential.''
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)