Jayden Gibson abruptly leaves team during 5-1 season start

Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables informed the media that wide receiver Jayden Gibson is no longer with the team.

The two sides have parted ways midway through the season, despite the Sooners’ impressive 5-1 start.

Venables broke the news via the SEC Coaches Teleconference.

“Jayden is no longer with the team,” Venables said.

Gibson replied to the post above, saying, “thank you, ou.”

The junior wide receiver spent three full seasons as a Sooner, but only played in two of them. He missed all of last season due to a ruptured patellar tendon that he suffered in fall camp. That caused him to miss the entire 2024 season after he was expected to see an increased role with the Sooners.

He was expected to return at the start of this season; however, he sustained a setback with his knee before the start of spring practices while running routes on air.

“Jayden was working some routes on air and might have had a small setback,” Venables said on March 25. “We’ll get the final word back on that. So I don’t want to really say anything in that regard.”

Gibson was one of five Sooner pass catchers to miss significant time last season. The Sooners had a disappointing season in 2024, finishing with a 6-7 record and a 2-6 SEC record. The offense struggled mightily last season, undergoing a change in offensive coordinator mid-season and enduring changes at the quarterback position as well.

Before Venable announced that Gibson is no longer with the program, he stated that the wide receiver was “on schedule” to return towards the beginning of the season. Venable provided that update in May.

In the two seasons Gibson was on the field, he recorded 387 receiving yards on 15 receptions, averaged 25.8 yards per reception, along with five touchdowns in 22 games. His best season came in his sophomore season when he collected all five of his touchdowns, while recording 14 receptions throughout 13 games.

The Sooners suffered their fourth loss of the season this past Saturday to their bitter rivals, the Texas Longhorns. They’ll look to bounce back this Saturday in another tough SEC matchup against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

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