Coming out of the bye week, the Oklahoma Sooners will have some reinforcements joining the team for their Week 6 matchup with the Kent State Golden Flashes.
After missing all of fall camp and the first four games of the season, cornerback Eli Bowen and wide receiver Javonnie Gibson are expected to make their 2025 debuts this week for the Sooners.
Bowen was a standout as a true freshman in 2024, coming up with one of the plays of the season in the win over Alabama when he intercepted a Jalen Milroe screen pass and took it deep into Oklahoma territory. He joins a cornerback room that’s shown some promise but has also had some ups and downs. His experience, awareness, and playmaking ability will be a welcome addition to Venables’ defense.
By all accounts, Gibson was one of the stars of spring ball. He had developed a nice rapport with John Mateer and looked like he’d be a key playmaker for the Sooners offense. Gibson suffered a broken leg and Oklahoma had the luxury of not having to rush him back with the play they’ve received at wide receiver this offseason.
As the Sooners prepare for Kent State and then seven SEC games to follow, they’ll need all the help they can get. And that help is coming at the right time.
“We’ve got a couple of guys coming back this week in Javonnie Gibson and Eli Bowen, provided there’s no setbacks.”
Brent Venables gave that injury update at the end of his near 20-minute opening segment on his weekly coaches show. Huge for the #Sooners to get those guys back.
— Brody Lusk (@BrodyLusk) September 30, 2025
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Eli Bowen, Javonnie Gibson set to return for Oklahoma Sooners
