Andrel Anthony to undergo season-ending surgery

As Oklahoma prepares to move on from its biggest win of the season, it will have to do so without the help of one of its top pass-catchers.
On Monday head coach Brent Venables revealed that junior wide receiver Andrel Anthony will undergo season-ending surgery after going down in the second half of Saturday’s win over Texas.
The transfer from Michigan led the Sooners with 27 catches and 429 receiving yards through the first six games of the season.
He ranked fifth and fourth in those categories respectively among Big 12 players this season.
“It’s tough,” Venables said. “You hate it for him. We have other guys. You hate it for Andrel and how hard he’s worked. We got to 6-0. He had a big part in helping us get there.”
Venables did have positive news about starting right guard McKade Mettauer. The redshirt senior needed to be carted off the field at the Cotton Bowl last week with a left leg injury, but Venables said on Monday that it’s an ankle sprain.
Venables called the outcome a “best-case scenario.”
Mettauer will have an extra week to get healthy as the Sooners enter their bye week before hosting UCF.
Meanwhile, Anthony will be a big loss for the Sooners’ offense even with depth at the receiver position.
Anthony caught at least three passes in five of the Sooners’ six games this season and has crossed the 100-yard mark twice. The former three-star prospect was having a breakout year after catching just 19 passes in two seasons with the Wolverines.
“Again, all of his best football is in front of him,” Venables said. “He’ll have a great career on the back end of this surgery. He doesn’t have much swelling. That usually means it’s a little quicker recovery for him. I hate that for him, but it gives some of the guys an opportunity.”
Nine different receivers on the Sooners’ roster have caught a pass this season. Five of those players have double-digit receptions.
Jalil Farooq appears poised to take over as Dillon Gabriel’s new favorite target with 20 receptions for 415 yards on the season. Nic Anderson will be hard for opposing defenses to ignore with a Big 12-leading six touchdown catches (the next-closest has four).
Anthony’s absence may open the door for more opportunities from some of the team’s young playmakers like Jaquaize Pettaway and Brenen Thompson.
“It’s a big loss and Andrel’s a guy that’s obviously a crazy good playmaker and really fast guym but we feel for him and we’re going to miss him but we’ve got some guys that can step up obviously, and contribute,” Tight end Austin Stogner said
Gabriel, Farooq, Rouse and Venables win weekly awards — Gabriel received three national player of the week honors after his performance in the Red River Rivalry.
The redshirt senior was named the Maxwell Award Player of the Week, Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week and Walter Camp FBS Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday. Gabriel leads the Big 12 in completion percentage (72.3%), passing yards (1,878) and touchdown passes (16).
He was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.
The unsung hero of Oklahoma’s game-winning drive also received national recognition. Left tackle Walter Rouse was named the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week on Tuesday.
Rouse blocked two Texas defenders to give Gabriel enough time to get off the winning touchdown pass.
Jalil Farooq accounted for 180 all-purpose yards against Texas and was recognized with Paul Hornung Player of the Week honors.
Venables was named the Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week after winning his first Golden Hat as head coach.
Kickoff time announced for UCF game — Oklahoma will be back on ABC when it returns to action against UCF on Saturday, Oct. 21. The game is scheduled for 11 a.m.
It’s the first time the Sooners have ever faced the Knights and likely the only time as members of the Big 12 Conference.