Oklahoma football: Addition of Penn State's Justin Brown has OU receiving corps looking stronger

“Do you feel like you've ever had a receiving corps this strong?” a reporter asked.

Stoops let out a brief chuckle.

“That's a different question,” Stoops said. “But, you know what? We're heading that way.”

After three receivers were suspended indefinitely in May, questions have centered around Kenny Stills being the only receiver back with a career reception at this level, how quickly young, inexperienced wideouts could adapt and how long it would take for quarterback Landry Jones to become comfortable with them.

Then, true freshmen Trey Metoyer, Sterling Shepard, Durron Neal and Derrick Woods impressed players and coaches through the spring and summer. Junior-college transfer Lacoltan Bester became academically eligible and has joined the team.

The suspended Trey Franks and Jaz Reynolds were reinstated for practices, although they will still miss a “considerable” amount of games, according to Stoops. The third suspended receiver, Kameel Jackson, was dismissed.

Then Brown (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) chose to transfer from Penn State for his senior season after the NCAA handed down harsh sanctions last month in response to the child abuse scandal that has plagued the school since last November.

A provision in the NCAA's ruling gave current Penn State players the option to transfer to any Football Bowl Subdivision program without sitting out the usually required one season.

Brown was one of nine former Penn State players to take the offer. Some coaches came under intense criticism for recruiting Nittany Lion players, like Illinois coach and former OSU defensive coordinator Tim Beckman, who admitted sending eight assistants to State College, Pa., after the sanctions were announced.

Tuesday, Stoops shot down a question about how he came into contact with Brown.

“I don't need to detail all that,” Stoops said. “That's a long time ago now.”

Brown had 35 receptions, 517 yards and two touchdowns last season at Penn State, but could potentially see a vast increase in production as part of a more pass-oriented offensive system.