By Mark Pszonak
Many transfers arrive at their new campus with plenty of buzz, while others need to earn it. That is generally the way it goes for FCS transfers, with questions surrounding them regarding their ability to compete at the FBS level. At Oklahoma, buzz had already been growing about wide receiver Javonnie Gibson (Arkansas-Pine Bluff), which has only gotten louder during the early portion of spring practice.
Backflips in the end zone 🥳@John_Mateer4 @yeahhjv11 pic.twitter.com/QZdq52XUrc
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) March 13, 2025
After all of the buzz, when the school’s official “X” account highlights the player, it is worth taking notice. Most of the attention in Norman has been understandably focused on transfer quarterback John Mateer (Washington State) and new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. How would the new quarterback and offense look this spring? And while early results have been very positive regarding both, they have been helped with the impressive play of Gibson, who has two years of eligibility remaining.
Gibson, 6-foot-2, 215-pounds, had a breakout 2024 season at Arkansas-Pine Bluff with 63 receptions for 1,034 yards and eight touchdowns in only ten games, which earned him second-team FCS All-American honors. That was his lone season with the Golden Lions, after his transfer in from DII Arkansas-Monticello.
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After a sloppy 2024 season, Oklahoma needed a spark on offense. And while much of that will be on the shoulders of Mateer and Arbuckle, having Gibson flourish, as well as another transfer wide receiver Isaiah Sategna (Arkansas) who has also impressed, there is reason for hope and optimism in Norman.
