Pair of former Sooners return as Captains to face Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners take on the Kentucky Wildcats on Saturday and will welcome a pair of former Sooners back onto Owen Field. Former wide receiver Nic Anderson and former running back Jovantae Barnes were named captains for the Wildcats ahead of this week's matchup.

Both players were key signees for the Sooners in Brent Venables inaugural 2022 recruiting class. Anderson, the younger brother of former running back Rodney Anderson, became a big-time contributor in the 2023 season. He started the year as the No. 4 wide receiver, but moved into the starting lineup when Andrel Anthony was injured.

Anderson had a big season, including the game-winning touchdown against the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Showdown. But after an injury-plagued 2024 season, Anderson transferred to LSU, where he played sparingly before joining new head coach Will Stein and the Kentucky Wildcats for 2026.

Barnes was a four-star signee out of Nevada and became the Sooners' backup running back as a true freshman behind 1,000-yard rusher Eric Gray. Barnes ran for more than 500 yards and five touchdowns. Barnes dealt with injuries in 2023 but ran for over 500 yards and five touchdowns in 2024. But in 2025, Barnes was limited to just four games and carried the ball just 19 times for 45 yards and a touchdown.

Now both are playing roles for a Kentucky team that's 5-1 and looking to build on their three-game winning streak with a win in a place where they were productive players earlier in their college career.