KMAX: Sports

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) It was August 2001 and the Oklahoma players thought the freshman receiver with the sinewy build, huge hands and sprinter's speed seemed ready to emerge as a star.

Instead, Brandon Jones took his time.

``I wasn't thinking the whole time that I would be starting,'' Jones said. ``We had a lot of other good guys, so I just sat back and played my part.''

Now, as a junior, Jones is becoming the receiver everyone thought he could be. He's the top offensive threat for the No. 1 Sooners, ranking ninth in the nation in receptions per game (8) and second on the team in scoring (3 TDs) behind kicker Trey DiCarlo.

Jones' performance through the first three games 24 catches for 282 yards hasn't surprised any of his coaches or teammates.

They simply want to know why it didn't happen before.

``The reasons why it took him until now, I can't say,'' coach Bob Stoops said. ``But for whatever reason he's finally competing and finding more ways to make plays.''

With his size (6-foot-3, 208 pounds) and speed (he runs a 4.41 in the 40), Jones was a physical marvel from the time he arrived on campus as a highly touted recruit out of Texarkana, Texas. He had just spurned a chance to play in the New York Yankees' farm system after being selected in the amateur draft.

Receiver Mark Clayton, also a junior, shakes his head as he remembers those first few practices after Jones reported with the other freshmen.

``He could jump over anybody, catch anything with one hand,'' Clayton said. ``It didn't matter who was on him. He was raw.''

But Jones struggled to pick up the Sooners' spread offense and caught only nine passes his first two seasons, playing mostly behind upperclassmen Antwone Savage and Curtis Fagan.

As his playing time fluctuated, his confidence plummeted.

``We struggled with him because he wasn't coming through fast enough,'' offensive coordinator Chuck Long said. ``We get impatient with talented guys. But we had to step back and say, 'Look, he's still a young player and he's still learning. As soon as he learns everything, his confidence will get better.' And that's what happened.''

Jones noticed the change in himself over the past summer. He was working harder than ever before and preparing not just for a starting role, but a starring one.

``It was everything conditioning, running routes and getting prepared in terms of learning the offense,'' Jones said. ``I wanted to be a part of this team and contribute to us winning.''

Jones has been quarterback Jason White's favorite target this season, catching touchdowns of 46 and 47 yards the latter a score that broke open a close game against Alabama. He's also provided plenty of highlights by plucking seemingly errant passes out of the air with hands the size of catcher's mitts.

``He's always open,'' White said. ``You can see how hard he worked over the summer.''

And if Jones continues to build on those considerable physical talents, Long thinks he could get drafted in another professional sport.

``He's one of the best I've seen at this level,'' Long said. ``He has NFL potential.''