Oklahoma TE Kaden Helms overcame two years of injuries, surgery to reach end zone

NORMAN – Redshirt sophomore tight end Kaden Helms has made himself a difficult person to contend with in Oklahoma’s locker room.

“Kaden Helms, what a great story,” Sooners interim offensive coordinator Joe Jon Finley said Saturday after OU’s 59-14 throttling of Maine. “He came back. What a serious injury. He fought back for more than a year, a year and a half, two years. Man, he put his head down and went to work and it was a great story.

Helms caught his first career touchdown during the second quarter of Saturday’s win on a 9-yard connection from sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold, extending OU’s lead to 49-7 and eliminating the starting unit for the day. Helms called the moment “surreal,” but someone at Memorial Stadium familiar with its history could have called it inspiring.

Helms, a Nebraska native, was a four-star at Bellevue West High School and chose OU over Miami, Auburn and North Carolina, among others. He was groomed to become a fixture in OU’s offense, but after appearing in three games his true freshman year, Helms missed the entirety of his redshirt freshman year with a knee injury and resulting surgery. After one setback came another. Helms suffered a hamstring injury that forced him to miss time in the spring and summer of ’24.

“I’ve never had surgery that big,” Helms said. “I never missed a game all four years of high school, and when I got to my freshman year I was healthy all year and it was just a tough process to get back into things. I wouldn’t say that I thought about running away, but I’ve definitely had some days that have been rougher than others and I’ve definitely questioned myself a bit.

He never doubted his football future and never succumbed to despair. Although he couldn’t practice during his recovery, he caught balls from the JUGS Machine — “on a dang scooter,” Finley said — and earned a reputation as a workhorse, keeping a sharp focus on his responsibilities in the weight room and during meetings. .

“I got a little emotional in the box just knowing how hard he worked,” Finley said.

“That’s my best friend,” Sooners defenseman Robert Spears-Jennings said during a post-game media bash, imploring reporters to give the microphone to Helms. “All the hard work he puts in, he deserves it, for real. That moment there was very special for all of us.”

A Maine defensive lineman tapped the pass intended for Helms. As always, he kept his focus and pulled it in at the front of the end zone.

“It was a pretty surreal moment, honestly,” Helms said. “It took a long time. The journey has not been easy, but it has certainly been worth it. I’m just happy to be there with my boys and happy to score my first for sure.

“I think I saw a stat, that was his first reception since 2022,” Arnold said. “Almost since I’ve been here he’s been injured, so it was great for him to go out today and get his first touchdown.”

The reaction from his teammates was indicative of the force his presence has become within the club. Bauer Sharp and Jake Roberts started at tight ends and were two of the first to rush to Helms in celebration. Another, Kade McIntyre, followed shortly after. Perhaps no one on the team understood Helms’ perseverance better than those in his conference room.

“This is one of my favorite sleek rooms I’ve ever been a part of,” Helms said. “I think this was kind of proof of that. Bauer and Jake ran onto the field, Kade was sitting close to me when it happened. It’s a great feeling to know where I’ve come from injury-wise and the fights I’ve been through are behind me.”

Helms attributed his steadfastness under difficult circumstances largely to his Christian faith.

“Honestly, there was a moment where I didn’t (see myself scoring), but I want to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He’s really the most important… Him, my friends, family, teammates obviously really kept me going when times got tough last year with my knee injury and then I had some hamstring issues in the spring and summer, so I was really almost gone. two years,” Helms said. “It was definitely tough mentally, but like I said, God just got me through it. I think He gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers. I just kept that mentality, kept pushing and I’m glad I did that.”

“Him being able to catch the ball on a tipped ball paid off for all those JUGS,” Finley said. “I am extremely happy for him.”