NORMAN — Andrel Anthony still talks to his former Michigan teammates on a daily basis.

Anthony developed close friendships during his two years with the Wolverines. But after having a modest role at Michigan, the junior wide receiver transferred to OU this past offseason in search of more opportunities.

That decision has paid off. Through just three games, Anthony has already recorded career-highs of 14 catches and 254 receiving yards to go along with one touchdown.

It’s a strong start for Anthony, whose former Michigan teammates are glad to see him thriving in an expanded role.

“They just say that they’re happy for me and it’s all love at the end of the day,” Anthony said on Monday. “Everybody wants to see their brothers doing great whether it’s there or here.”

Anthony has been a key contributor for OU’s offense, which needed a go-to receiver following the departure of Marvin Mims.

More specifically, the Sooners needed a deep threat, and Anthony has embraced that role. He’s averaging 18.1 yards per catch, and his 55-yard reception against Tulsa in Week 3 is a team-high for the season.

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OU receiver Andrel Anthony (5) celebrates a touchdown in the first half of a 28-11 win against SMU on Sept. 9 in Norman.

Anthony didn’t put up any eye-catching stats at Michigan. He appeared in all but three games in his two seasons with the team, but he only recorded 19 catches for 328 yards and four touchdowns.

Despite the small sample size, OU head coach Brent Venables recognized Anthony’s potential.

“There were no red flags,” Venables said on Tuesday. “Of course, he’s very explosive. We had a background in knowing who he was coming out of high school, so we had a comfort level to know what we felt like we might be getting from an athletic…