Boasting a 550-pound squat and surgical accuracy, dual-threat weapon EJ Colson Jr. brings explosive tempo to Norman, testing Oklahoma’s elite pass rush with his playmaking mobility and aggression.
EJ Colson Jr. is a redshirt sophomore transfer and dual-threat quarterback who won the starting job after an efficient 2025 season at Incarnate Word. He is listed at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, and brings a mix of accuracy, downfield aggression, and mobility that fits Scotty Walden’s high-tempo spread offense.
Last season at Incarnate Word, Colson completed 70.9 percent of his passes for 2,142 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. He also ran for 458 yards and three scores. Those numbers paint the picture of a quarterback who takes care of the ball, pushes it down the field, and can hurt you when the pocket breaks down.
More than 16 percent of his attempts traveled 20 or more yards, so he is not just a dink-and-dunk guy living off short completions.
The strengths are clear on film. Colson is accurate on time throws, especially toward the sideline, and he has the touch to drop the ball into tighter windows on deeper routes. He shows poise when defenders get close and does not appear to panic out of his progressions.
When the play does break down, he can scramble. A large chunk of his rushing production came from improvisation rather than designed runs. He also has surprising lower-body strength for his size, including a reported 550-pound back squat this offseason.
The concerns are just as important, especially against a defense like Oklahoma’s. Colson is still adjusting to the full-time speed of the FBS level after producing at Incarnate Word, with only limited prior Power conference exposure from his earlier stop at UCF.
At 190 pounds, he also has to be smart about when to slide and when to take contact. Survival matters over the course of a season, and it matters even more in a building like Norman against a front that thrives on pressure.
That pressure is the biggest matchup advantage. Colson was sacked 27 times last season. Oklahoma averaged 3.5 sacks per game a year ago and finished with 45 total. Brent Venables’ defense led the SEC in that category, and the Sooners return a disruptive group anchored by Taylor Wein and David Stone, with Jayden Jackson and Adepoju Adebawore also capable of wrecking protection. If Colson holds the ball too long chasing explosive plays, Oklahoma’s front is built to punish exactly that habit.
UTEP’s offensive line will have its hands full. Protecting Colson’s blind side is the first job if the Miners want any chance to keep the offense on schedule. Walden’s system wants tempo and spacing. That only works if the quarterback has time to let routes develop or room to escape when the first option is covered.
Against Oklahoma’s defensive line and the speed at linebacker behind it, those windows can close fast.
For the Sooners, the assignment is straightforward. Stay disciplined in coverage, do not overpursue when Colson leaves the pocket, and keep the front aggressive without getting reckless. Colson can make you pay if you give him clean looks down the field or easy scramble lanes. He is not a statuesque pocket passer, and treating him like one would be a mistake.
Oklahoma should still be the far more talented team on Friday night. That does not mean Colson is a throwaway scouting note. He is accurate, willing to push the ball, and dangerous when plays break down. The question is whether UTEP’s protection can give him enough stability to show those traits against one of the better defensive fronts in the country.
If the Sooners get home clean and force him into hurried decisions, the night gets difficult in a hurry.
If they lose contain or leave the middle of the field soft, Colson has enough ability to make the opener more uncomfortable than it should be.
