Haselwood's speedy return `a great thing'
NORMAN — Jadon Haselwood didn't need to look far for inspiration coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered over the offseason.
Haselwood's mother, Courtney, suffered the same injury last year.
Though there were plenty of reasons for the OU wide receiver to be thrilled 11 months ago when the Sooners were sent to the Peach Bowl in Haselwood's home state of Georgia, having his mother there for the game was a big reason. She had surgery not long before the bowl game and likely wouldn't have been able to attend the bowl game had OU been sent to Arizona and the Fiesta Bowl, the other College Football Playoff semifinal.
Haselwood suffered his knee injury in April in what Sooners coach Lincoln Riley called a “freak accident” at home that wasn't related to a football workout.
While Haselwood didn't offer details, he said the circumstances of his injury made rehab more difficult.
“The hardest part was just keeping a positive mental (attitude) because I'm gonna always work hard and grind,” Haselwood said.
Seven months later, Haselwood is back.
While he had one 33-yard catch in his first game back, two weeks ago against Kansas, Haselwood could have a much bigger impact in Saturday's Bedlam matchup (6:30 p.m., ABC).
Haselwood got emotional discussing his injury and his return.
“Those times were tough and being there for my team, that just makes up for time lost,” Haselwood said. “It made my mood way better just thinking about it. “Being back is a great thing.” While the Sooners have the top passing offense in the Big 12 and are No. 9 nationally in passing yards per game, OU's receiving corps has been thin at times this season.
With Theo Wease emerging as a consistent target especially on third down, Marvin Mims' strong freshman season and walk- on Drake Stoops becoming a favorite target of Spencer Rattler, and now with Haselwood's return, that group has turned into perhaps the deepest position group on the team.
There's still plenty of room for Haselwood, though.
As a freshman a year ago, Haselwood was tied for third on the team with 19 catches.
He didn't have a catch in last year's Bedlam matchup but did have one carry.
Before his injury, Haselwood looked poised for a breakout season, especially with the departure of CeeDee Lamb leaving a big hole to be filled.
After the injury, it seemed as if that chance was out the window, especially as it related to Bedlam.
The game was originally scheduled for Oct. 24, putting a return for that game just out of reach. Even after the revised Big 12 schedule moved it to late November, Haselwood playing in this game was a longshot.
But Haselwood attacked his rehab and came back ahead of the aggressive return date that was set for him shortly after his injury.
“I think that's how we all get judged — when things don't go out way, how do we handle it?,” Riley said.
“A guy that's highly recruited, a good football player, comes in here and has a really good freshman year and things kind of set up to really take off and all of the sudden something as crazy as what happened with Jadon happens and you do get a chance … it's a test.
“You either respond or you pout and he certainly (responded).”
Haselwood said he never doubted his knee once he returned.
“I don't have any statistics to give you. I know I'm reaching my peak,” Haselwood said. “I don't know what my peak is.
“I still have a year or two left here and I feel like there's a lot more room to improve and a lot more plays to be made.”
Against the Cowboys, the best defense the Sooners have faced so far this season and a must-win game as it relates to OU's chances to extend their streak of Big 12 championships, the Sooners could definitely use some plays from Haselwood.