{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Drake Stoops | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | current_team =Dallas Renegades | number =6 | position = Wide receiver | college = Oklahoma (2018–2023) | high_school = Norman North {{nowrap|(Norman, Oklahoma)}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|6|16|mf=y}} | birth_place = Norman, Oklahoma, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 10 | weight_lb = 189 | undraftedyear = 2024 | pastteams = * Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|2024}})* * Dallas Renegades ({{UFL Year|2026}}–present) | status =Active | highlights = * First-team All-Big 12 (2023) | pfr = S/StooDr00 }} '''Drake Stoops''' (born June 16, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners. He is the son of former Sooners head coach Bob Stoops and nephew of Mark and Mike Stoops.
==High school career== Stoops, along with his brother Isaac, played football at Norman North High School in Norman, Oklahoma. As a junior, he caught 86 passes for 1,536 yards and 20 touchdowns to help lead Norman North to the state championship game. In his senior year, he caught 67 passes for 1,093 yards and 15 touchdowns in 10 games. Stoops ended his high school career with 201 catches for 3,390 yards and 39 touchdowns, being named as a two-time first-team all-state selection by ''The Oklahoman''.<ref name="The Oklahoman: Drake Stoops">{{Cite web |last=Unruh |first=Jacob |date=January 12, 2018 |title=High school football: Norman North's Drake Stoops keeping family legacy alive at OU |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/columns/2018/01/13/high-school-football-norman-norths-drake-stoops-keeping-family-legacy-alive-at-ou/60549804007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015034511/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/columns/2018/01/13/high-school-football-norman-norths-drake-stoops-keeping-family-legacy-alive-at-ou/60549804007/ |archive-date=October 15, 2023 |access-date=October 14, 2023 |website=Oklahoman.com}}</ref>
Rated as a three-star recruit by major recruiting services 247Sports and Rivals, Stoops received scholarship offers from Air Force, Iowa, Memphis, Ohio, and Western Kentucky. However, he decided to join Oklahoma as a preferred walk-on.<ref name="The Oklahoman: Drake Stoops" />
==College career== Coming into Oklahoma, Stoops was joined by his brother Isaac, also a wide receiver. However, Isaac left the team before their freshman season. Head coach Lincoln Riley acknowledged that Stoops was not highly recruited due to his size and lack of track speed, but acknowledged that Stoops' name gave him some pause too.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stitches, staples and superglue: How Oklahoma's Drake Stoops forged his own role|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2154495/2020/10/23/oklahoma-football-drake-stoops/|website=theathletic.com|date=October 23, 2020|access-date=October 14, 2023|archive-date=October 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015034512/https://theathletic.com/2154495/2020/10/23/oklahoma-football-drake-stoops/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Stoops entered his first year at Oklahoma, appearing in the first two games where he caught two passes for 16 yards against Florida Atlantic. He is believed to be the first true Sooner freshman walk-on to record a catch in a season opener.<ref name="SoonerSports: Drake Stoops">{{cite web|title=Drake Stoops Biography|url=https://soonersports.com/sports/football/roster/drake-stoops/16158|website=soonersports.com|access-date=October 14, 2023|archive-date=October 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014033241/https://soonersports.com/sports/football/roster/drake-stoops/16158|url-status=live}}</ref> As a sophomore, Stoops played in all 14 games as a reserve receiver and punt returner where he totaled eight receptions for 95 yards. In his first bowl game, he caught two passes for a career-high 28 yards against LSU in the 2019 Peach Bowl.<ref name="SoonerSports: Drake Stoops"/> With the departure of CeeDee Lamb, Stoops played in 10 games and made seven starts, recording 15 receptions for 219 yards and two touchdowns. After missing the season opener, he caught three passes for 93 yards, which included a career-long 51-yard touchdown in a loss against Kansas State. In a four overtime win against Texas, he scored a game-winning touchdown on a 20-yard reception from Spencer Rattler.<ref name="SoonerSports: Drake Stoops"/>
After the Sooners spring game, Stoops was awarded a scholarship by head coach Lincoln Riley prior to the 2021 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oklahoma Sooners WR Drake Stoops receives validation by scholarship|url=https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/2021/05/10/oklahoma-football-drake-stoops-scholarship-big-12-lincoln-riley/|website=soonerswire.com|date=May 10, 2021|access-date=October 14, 2023|archive-date=November 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109035519/https://soonerswire.usatoday.com/2021/05/10/oklahoma-football-drake-stoops-scholarship-big-12-lincoln-riley/|url-status=live}}</ref> As a junior, he recorded 16 receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns despite missing three games. Against Texas Tech, he had a career high-tying three receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown.<ref name="SoonerSports: Drake Stoops"/> After head coach Lincoln Riley departed for USC, Stoops' dad, former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, was named interim head coach for the 2021 Alamo Bowl. In the Alamo Bowl, Stoops had one reception for a touchdown playing under his dad.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Salvador |first=Joseph |date=2021-11-28 |title=Bob Stoops Named Oklahoma Interim Coach After Riley Departure |url=https://www.si.com/college/2021/11/28/bob-stoops-to-coach-oklahoma-in-bowl-game |access-date=2024-03-22 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us |archive-date=2023-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109035528/https://www.si.com/college/2021/11/28/bob-stoops-to-coach-oklahoma-in-bowl-game |url-status=live }}</ref>
Under new head coach Brent Venables, Stoops played in all 13 games and made ten starts in the 2022 season. As a senior, he tied for second on the team with 39 receptions and totaled 393 yards and three touchdowns. Against Oklahoma State, he set a career high with six receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown. A week later against Texas Tech again, he topped last year's performance by tying a career high six receptions for 55 yards. Stoops enjoyed his best year averaging 10.1 yards per catch with his receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns all marking career highs.<ref name="SoonerSports: Drake Stoops"/>
===Statistics=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="5"| Receiving ! colspan="5"| Rushing |- ! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD |- ! 2018 !! Oklahoma | 2 || 16 || 8.0 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2019!! Oklahoma | 8 || 95 || 11.9 || 19 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2020!! Oklahoma | 15 || 219 || '''14.6''' || 51 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2021!! Oklahoma | 16 || 191 || 11.9 || 31 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 |- ! 2022!! Oklahoma | 39 || 393 || 10.1 || 33 || 3 || 8 || 48 || 6.0 || 14 || 0 |- ! 2023!! Oklahoma | '''84''' || '''962''' || 11.5 || '''60''' || '''10''' || 4 || 8 || 2 || 13 || 0 |- ! colspan="2"|[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/drake-stoops-1.html Career] !! 164 !! 1876 !! 11.4 !! 51 !! 17 !! 12 !! 56 !! 6.0 !! 27 !! 0 |}
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 5 | height in = 9 5/8 | weight = 186 | dash = 4.67 | ten split = 1.63 | twenty split = 2.65 | shuttle = 4.25 | cone drill = 7.01 | vertical = 30.0 | broad ft = 8 | broad in = 11 | bench = 8 | arm span = 29 | hand span = 8 1/2 | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://soonersports.com/news/2024/3/12/football-2024-pro-day |title=2024 Pro Day - University of Oklahoma |website=SoonerSports.com |access-date=April 12, 2024 |archive-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407152424/https://soonersports.com/news/2024/3/12/football-2024-pro-day |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1027987&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Drake Stoops College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=April 12, 2024 |archive-date=October 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027181103/https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1027987&DraftYear=2024 |url-status=live }}</ref> }}
=== Los Angeles Rams === Stoops signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rams agree to terms with 16 undrafted free agents|url=https://www.therams.com/news/rams-agree-to-terms-with-16-undrafted-free-agents-2024|author=Jackson, Stu|website=TheRams.com|date=May 2, 2024|access-date=May 2, 2024|archive-date=May 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502180401/https://www.therams.com/news/rams-agree-to-terms-with-16-undrafted-free-agents-2024|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also selected by the Arlington Renegades (the team coached by his father) in the 10th round of the 2024 UFL draft on July 17.<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 UFL College Draft: Showboats select Kansas QB Jason Bean with No. 1 pick |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/ufl/2024-ufl-college-draft-tracking-every-selection |website=FoxSports.com |date=July 17, 2024 |access-date=July 19, 2024}}</ref> He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Stu |date=August 28, 2024 |title=Rams sign 17 players to initial practice squad for 2024 season |url=https://www.therams.com/news/rams-sign-17-players-to-initial-practice-squad-for-2024-season |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=TheRams.com}}</ref> He signed a reserve/future contract on January 20, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rams sign 13 players to Reserve/Future contracts|url=https://www.therams.com/news/rams-sign-13-players-to-reserve-future-conracts-2025-aj-arcuri-quintez-cephus-drake-stoops-keir-thomas|author=Jackson, Stu|website=TheRams.com|date=January 20, 2025}}</ref>
On August 26, 2025, Stoops was waived by the Rams as part of final roster cuts.<ref>{{cite web | last=Miller | first=Wyatt | title=Rams waive 22 players, release one, waive/injured two in final group of cuts ahead of 2025 53-man roster deadline | website=therams.com | date=2025-08-26 | url=https://www.therams.com/news/rams-waive-22-players-release-one-waive-injure-two-in-final-group-of-cuts-ahead-of-2025-53-man-roster-deadline | access-date=2025-11-26}}</ref>
=== Dallas Renegades === On January 20, 2026, Stoops signed with the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League (UFL).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-21 |title=Dallas Renegades Add Oklahoma Standout Drake Stoops to Roster |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/dallas-renegades-add-oklahoma-standout-drake-stoops-to-roster/n-6318900 |access-date=2026-01-21 |website=OurSports Central |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://soonersports.com/sports/football/roster/drake-stoops/16158 Oklahoma Sooners bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stoops, Drake}} Category:1999 births Category:Living people Category:American football wide receivers Category:Players of American football from Norman, Oklahoma Category:Oklahoma Sooners football players Category:Los Angeles Rams players Category:Norman North High School alumni Category:Dallas Renegades players