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Former Oklahoma star WR joins UFL team
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- Former Oklahoma star WR joins UFL team
Former Oklahoma Sooners star wide receiver Drake Stoops , the son of legendary OU head coach Bob Stoops , is set to continue his playing career in the United Football League. In addition, he'll be playing for his father's old team.
Stoops is joining the UFL's Dallas (formerly Arlington) Renegades, the team announced on Wednesday . Until recently, Stoops' dad was the coach of the Renegades, before retiring from coaching football back in December. He'll be replaced by Rick Neuheisel. Coach Stoops was the head man in Norman from 1999 to 2016, and was the interim coach for the 2021 Alamo Bowl victory after Lincoln Riley bolted to USC. Stoops ushered in a new era of Sooner football greatness, after a decade of dormancy from 1989 to 1998 after Barry Switzer left.
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The younger Stoops played for OU from 2018 to 2023, and turned into a star in his senior season under head coach Brent Venables. He caught 84 passes for 962 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2023, all career highs. Stoops went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, but signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an UDFA. He was a practice squad player for the Rams, but should get some serious playing time in the UFL.
The UFL is the result of the two spring football leagues, the XFL and the USFL combining, and this spring will mark the third season under that arrangement. The league runs during the offseason for the NFL and college football.
Currently, Stoops is one of a handful of former OU players that appear on rosters for UFL teams. Defensive linemen Amani Bledsoe and Ronnie Perkins , offensive linemen Andrew Raym and Tyrese Robinson , and defensive back Tre Norwood all play for the Birmingham Stallions. Defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas plays for the Columbus Aviators. Offensive linemen Adrian Ealy and Michael Tarquin play for the DC Defenders. Defensive lineman LaRon Stokes plays for the Louisville Kings. Linebacker DaShaun White plays for the Orlando Storm.
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Stoops is the only former OU player for the Dallas Renegades, and the other two teams in the league are the Houston Gamblers and the St. Louis Battlehawks. There are also a couple of Oklahoma ties when it comes to the UFL head coaches. Former Oklahoma co-offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin is the coach of the Gamblers, while former Oklahoma QB commit Chris Redman is the coach of the Kings.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Drake Stoops is set to play in the United Football League
