Drake Stoops Bio
Drake Stoops (born June 16, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver who currently plays for the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League. He is listed at 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) and 189 lb (86 kg), and he wears jersey number 6. Stoops is the son of former Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops and the nephew of Mark Stoops and Mike Stoops, making football a defining part of his family identity. After a notable college career with the Oklahoma Sooners, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2024 before moving to the UFL.
Early Life and Background
Drake Stoops was born on June 16, 1999, in Norman, Oklahoma, and grew up in a household shaped by championship-level college football. His father, Bob Stoops, served as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners for nearly two decades and led the program to a national championship in 2000. His uncles, Mark Stoops and Mike Stoops, also became head coaches, with Mark leading the Kentucky Wildcats and Mike working as a defensive coordinator at several major programs. As a result, the young Stoops grew up around big-time football traditions, locker rooms, and game-planning meetings.
Stoops attended Norman North High School in Norman, Oklahoma, where he starred as a wide receiver. As a junior, he caught 86 passes for 1,536 yards and 20 touchdowns, helping lead Norman North to the state championship game. In his senior year, he added 67 receptions for 1,093 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 10 games. He finished his high school career with 201 catches for 3,390 yards and 39 touchdowns and was twice named a first-team all-state selection by The Oklahoman. Rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals, he chose to join Oklahoma as a preferred walk-on despite offers from Air Force, Iowa, Memphis, Ohio, and Western Kentucky.
Path to American Football
Stoops walked on at Oklahoma, where he was joined briefly by his brother Isaac, a fellow wide receiver who later left the program. Head coach Lincoln Riley acknowledged that Stoops was not heavily recruited because of his size and modest track speed, but noted that the Stoops surname alone added attention to the young receiver. Stoops quickly proved he belonged by appearing in the first two games of his freshman year, recording two catches 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.
As a sophomore, Stoops played in all 14 games as a reserve receiver and punt returner, finishing with eight receptions for 95 yards. He added two catches for a career-high 28 yards in the 2019 Peach Bowl against LSU. After Lincoln Riley departed for USC, his father Bob Stoops served as interim head coach for the 2021 Alamo Bowl, where Drake caught a touchdown pass under his dad’s leadership. That moment symbolized the family connection that has followed him throughout his career.
Drake Stoops Career
Early Career (2018-2021)
Stoops entered Oklahoma in 2018 and steadily grew into a reliable contributor for the Sooners. After his walk-on start, he earned playing time as a sophomore on offense and special teams. Following the departure of star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, Stoops stepped into a larger role, playing in 10 games with seven starts and recording 15 receptions for 219 yards and two touchdowns. He scored a career-long 51-yard touchdown against Kansas State and caught a 20-yard game-winning pass from Spencer Rattler in a four-overtime win against Texas.
After the 2021 spring game, Lincoln Riley awarded Stoops a scholarship ahead of his junior season. He responded with 16 receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns despite missing three games, including a career high-tying three-catch, 57-yard performance with a touchdown against Texas Tech. His combination of precise route running, reliable hands, and toughness in traffic made him a respected presence in the Sooners receiving corps.
Oklahoma Senior Season (2022-2023)
Under new head coach Brent Venables, Stoops played in all 13 games with ten starts during the 2022 season. He tied for second on the team with 39 receptions and totaled 393 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He set a career high with six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown against Oklahoma State, then matched that mark with six receptions for 55 yards against Texas Tech the following week. His senior campaign represented his most complete statistical season, averaging 10.1 yards per catch.
In 2023, Stoops earned First-team All-Big 12 honors, capping a college career that began as a walk-on and ended as one of the conference’s most productive wide receivers. He finished his Oklahoma tenure as a respected leader and dependable target. That recognition helped set the stage for his transition to the professional ranks.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2024-2025)
Stoops signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2024, beginning his professional career in one of the NFL’s most stable organizations. On July 17, 2024, he was also selected by the Arlington Renegades, the UFL team coached by his father Bob Stoops, in the 10th round of the 2024 UFL draft. He was waived by the Rams on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad the same day. On January 20, 2025, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Rams, signaling the team’s continued confidence in his development.
On August 26, 2025, Stoops was waived by the Rams as part of final roster cuts. While his time in Los Angeles did not produce a regular-season stat line, the experience allowed him to refine his route running, learn an NFL playbook, and develop the habits required to compete at the highest level.
Dallas Renegades Era (2026-Present)
On January 20, 2026, Stoops signed with the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League, joining the spring league to continue his professional career. The move gave him an opportunity to play a significant offensive role in a smaller league while staying connected to the UFL’s competitive structure. He is currently listed as an active member of the Renegades roster and wears number 6.
Driving Style and Strengths
On the field, Stoops is recognized for his precise route running, reliable hands, and competitive toughness in contested-catch situations. His smaller frame has not prevented him from winning against larger defenders, and his football intelligence, sharpened by growing up around elite coaching, helps him read coverages and find soft spots in zones. Coaches have consistently praised his preparation and consistency, two traits that allowed him to thrive as a walk-on at Oklahoma and transition to professional football.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Stoops caught a 20-yard game-winning touchdown in a four-overtime victory over Texas and played under his father Bob Stoops in the 2021 Alamo Bowl, where he scored a touchdown. He was also believed to be the first true Sooner freshman walk-on to record a catch in a season opener. His 2023 First-team All-Big 12 selection stands as the defining individual award of his career so far.
Drake Stoops Career Wins
Drake Stoops has built a steady resume of competitive achievements across high school, college, and the professional ranks, highlighted by record-setting production at Norman North and First-team All-Big 12 honors at Oklahoma.
High School and College Highlights
At Norman North, Stoops finished with 201 receptions for 3,390 yards and 39 touchdowns, including a 20-touchdown junior season that powered the Timberwolves to the state championship game. At Oklahoma, he closed his senior year with career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, then earned First-team All-Big 12 recognition in 2023. He appeared in multiple bowl games, including the 2019 Peach Bowl and the 2021 Alamo Bowl.
Other Wins and Performances
Stoops earned back-to-back first-team all-state honors from The Oklahoman during his final two high school seasons, underscoring his dominance at the prep level. In the UFL, he has joined the Dallas Renegades roster as an active wide receiver, giving him a new platform to build professional production.
Drake Stoops Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Drake Stoops comes from one of the most recognized coaching families in college football history. His father, Bob Stoops, served as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners for 18 seasons and won a national championship in 2000. His uncles, Mark Stoops and Mike Stoops, have also built long careers as head coaches and coordinators across major programs. His brother Isaac also played wide receiver at Norman North High School and briefly at Oklahoma before leaving the program.
Personal Life
Drake Stoops was raised in Norman, Oklahoma, where he continues to have strong ties through his family’s deep roots in the Oklahoma football community. Public information about his marital status and children is not currently verified, so further personal-life details are limited to what is widely reported in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a transitional year for Drake Stoops, beginning with his reserve/future contract with the Los Angeles Rams signed on January 20, 2025. He spent the offseason working within the Rams organization, competing for a roster spot while refining his role in a deep wide receiver room. His path intersected with the UFL after he was selected by the Arlington Renegades in the 2024 UFL draft, leaving open the possibility of a spring league opportunity.
On August 26, 2025, Stoops was waived by the Rams as part of final roster cuts, ending his time in Los Angeles. The move redirected his focus toward the United Football League, where a new opportunity awaited in the offseason. His trajectory reflected the typical path of a highly motivated undrafted player, balancing the volatility of NFL roster math with the structure of a developing spring league.
Looking ahead, Stoops signed with the Dallas Renegades on January 20, 2026, positioning him to play a meaningful role in the UFL’s spring season. With his college production, professional experience, and family football pedigree, he enters the next chapter with a clear chance to establish himself as a featured target in the Renegades’ passing attack.