Former Badger Keontez Lewis is listed as a starting wide receiver after his fourth stop in his college football career. His journey began at UCLA, where he never made it on the field. He moved on to Wisconsin, where he played for two seasons, amassing a total of 21 receptions. After Madison, he decided to go to Southern Illinois, it was that breakout year that led him to Oklahoma where he's now listed as a starter.
This is a bit of a surprise, as it seemed after leaving Wisconsin that he hadn't developed into a starting wide receiver at a high major school. Now, he's starting for the Sooners.
Oklahoma has released their Week 1 depth chart:
— Josh Callaway (@JoshMCallaway) August 25, 2025
- Jovantae Barnes is RB1 to start, Tory Blaylock RB2, Jaydn Ott RB3
- Jaren Kanak TE1
- Courtland Guillory and Jacobe Johnson opposite of Gentry Williams
- Deion Burks, Isaiah Sategna and Keontez Lewis starting WR’s#Sooners pic.twitter.com/V6vJzcdY8O
Keontez Lewis is listed as a starter on Oklahoma's week 1 depth chart
Related: True freshmen takeover: Young players are all over the week 1 Wisconsin depth chart
When Lewis first arrived at Wisconsin, his 2022 season showed that he had incredible potential. He had 20 receptions for 313 yards and three touchdowns. And then in 2023, he essentially disappeared from the depth chart. He only recorded one catch for 12 yards.
That led him to the portal. With that most recent production under his belt, the decision to go down a step to Southern Illinois was obvious. He needed to make some noise and transfer again. He did just that, catching 49 balls for 790 yards and five touchdowns.
He wasn't a huge splash transfer portal addition for the Sooners, but a good one. Now, it appears he's going to get a chance to start, and that could mean big things for Lewis. That time in Southern Illinois may have really turned around his career.
According to Emmett Jones, the wide receiver coach for Oklahoma, "Keontez is different, man. He’s a dog. He loves to compete, loves to fight for the ball and is so smart when it comes to playing the wide receiver position. Some people ask me who he reminds me of, and he’s cut from — I would say CeeDee (Lamb)."
That's some incredible praise for the former Wisconsin player, and it looks like he may be ready to make some noise in the SEC.