The Football Brainiacs

Player Profile

Position: Wide Receiver

Height: 6’1”

Weight: 208

Class: Senior

Seasons at OU: 3

Hometown: Lanham, Md.

Previous School: Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. HS

The Path to Norman

Jalil Farooq comes to Oklahoma all the way from Maryland. The highly-ranked receiver and defensive back had an offer list of who’s who in college football – Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and Clemson to name a few. Farooq was one of a handful of recruits in the 2021 class with a strong connection to former OU QB Caleb Williams, a driving factor in the recruiting class. Farooq made it to Norman for the Summit event late in the summer. Not long after that, Farooq announced his decision to be a Sooner.

Career so Far

Farooq earned played time as a freshman, but it was mostly of a quiet variety. He saw snaps mostly on special teams throughout the season, seeing only one catch through the first 12 games of the year (of which he played in seven). Then, in the bowl game against Oregon, Farooq put on a three-catch performance that showed Sooner fans a glimpse of what he could do. Despite speculation that he would be one of those departing following the regime change, Farooq stayed in Norman.

In 2022, Farooq took a big step up. He played in all 13 games, starting in most, and was a pivotal part of the offense. He ranked fourth on the team in receiving yards and third in receiving touchdowns. Although it was an underwhelming season for the OU receiver group, Farooq showed how dangerous he can be with the ball in his hands.

2023 was a similar year for the receiver. He started in all 13 games, earned Honorable Mention All-Big 12, and played in the fifth-most snaps of any offensive player. Farooq finished third on the team in receptions and receiving yards and was a factor in the kick return game as well.

Stats

Years: 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | Career

Games Played: 13 | 13 | 8 | 34

Receptions: 45 | 37 | 4 | 86

Receiving Yards: 694 | 466 | 69 | 1229

Receiving TD: 2 | 5 | 0 | 7

Carries: 17 | 15 | 0 | 32

Rush Yards: 95 | 140 | 0 | 235

Stats via Soonersports.com

Highlights

This Season

The Sooners have a deep and exciting receiver group in 2024, boasting returning players and a few newcomers. Farooq was listed as a starter on this week’s depth chart; while quite a few players will see plenty of snaps, the senior receiver will look to continue being a big part of the OU offense this season.