Days before Christmas and the Sooners facing Alabama in the Orange Bowl, CeeDee Lamb sat in Darrick Reed’s Houston living room. The old coach and star pupil were sharing old stories.

Not long ago, this was where 9-year-old Lamb spent most of his weekends during football season. With his parents divorced, Lamb occasionally staying with his youth football coach made things easier for everyone.

On this particular day, as the two reminisced on Lamb’s already successful career, Reed recalled the story of how his former player got his nаme.

It was the first day of practice and Lamb, who went by his birth nаme ‘Cedarian,’ was showing his speed and natural athletic ability. At first, Reed called him ‘DVD’ due to the highlight plays he was making and the popularity of DVDs at the time. By the end of practice ‘DVD’ had turned into ‘CD,’ which like his long, lanky frame, stretched over time to CeeDee.

“It didn’t take long to see he was a special kid,” said Reed, who’s been coaching Pop Warner football for a decade. “It was clear from a young age we would be watching him on Saturdays and Sundays.”

Reed’s prediction was on target. The Oklahoma junior has become one of the best wide receivers in college football, catching 111 passes for 1,965 yards and 18 touchdowns in just two seasons. He’s a leading candidate for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the best wide receiver in college football, and is widely considered a possible first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, making 2019 likely his last in the crimson and cream.

While his role as a top target in the Sooners’ high-powered offense won’t change this season, Lamb’s role as a leader and mentor has never been bigger. The departures of quarterback Kyler Murray, receiver Marquise Brown and four оffensive linemen, plus the addition of transfer quarterback Jalen Hurts, makes Lamb one of the most experienced players in Lincoln Riley’s offense. But what makes him the perfect leader for Oklahoma isn’t just his highlight-reel plays or experience — it’s the route he’s taken that has made him who he is today.

It’s a journey that’s seen more hardship than most and is driven by an unshakable desire to never give up.

“His story is truly remarkable,” Reed said. “We all knew he was going to be a special player, but to see where he is today… it brings tears to my eyes.”

CeeDee Lamb as a child with former coach Darrick Reed. Photo provided.

“IT’S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT WORK ETHIC.”

Leta Ramirez used to drive her 9-year-old son 45 miles one way to football practice five days a week.

She worked 9-5 as a medical assistant at the University of Texas Health Science Center, rushing home to pick up Lamb in hopes of getting him to the start of practice at 6:30. Most days, they battled 5 o’clock traffic making the hour-long trek across Houston from Northshore to Richmond. Lamb sat in the back of Ramirez’s 2007 Tahoe, doing homework and then sliding his shoulder pads on.

It all made sense to Ramirez. The team in Richmond — the Hurricanes — was one of the most well-coached little league teams in Houston, providing a much better opportunity for her son.

“It was a strugglе,” said Ramirez, who has five children. “But when you have the chance to better one of your kid’s lives, you do it.”

Lamb took full advantage of his mother’s sacrifice. He became determined to be not just good at football, but the best he could possibly be.

Much of that work ethic came from those who raised him. Lamb was born into a football family. His dad, Cliff Lamb, played at MidAmerica Nazarene. His uncle, Adam Lamb, played at Texas Southern. And his other uncle, Chester Ramirez Jr., played at the Air Force Academy.

They each saw special traits in Lamb: Good hands, quick feet and a natural toughness. Cliff and Adam both remember the time Lamb caught a pass one-handed while falling out of bounds at 5 years old. They sаy it was eerily similar to the famous non-catch he had against UCLA last season.

But it wasn’t his talent alone that stood out. Instead it was the way he went about perfecting his game even at a young age.

Adam remembers working on drills with high school prospects one day while then 7-year-old Lamb watched from a distance. When he turned around after giving instructions, his nephew was doing the drills himself. Reed recalls the times he would find Lamb watching game film at just 9 and 10 years old, while his own sons were playing video games.

“That’s the thing about Lamb,” said Reed, who calls Lamb one of the best Houston Pop Warner players ever. “It’s always been about work ethic.”

Sophomore wide receiver CeeDee Lamb attempts a one-handed catch in the game against UCLA Sept. 8. Photo by Caitlyn Epes.

Since arriving at Oklahoma, Lamb has become known as one of the hardest workers on the team. Lamb has gained over 20 pounds of muscle in two years, often working out with Sooners strength coach Bennie Wylie even on off days. He’s also grown as a leader, as evidenced by Riley making him one of four players who represented the Sooners at Big 12 Media Days in July.

For Reed, who’s known Lamb most of his life, none of this is surprising. But when Lamb showed up at Reed’s house in December to thank his old coach for helping him achieve his dreams, Reed couldn’t help but be overwhelmed.

“If there’s a kid out there that deserves a shot at the NFL, which I think he’ll be a first-round draft pick,” an emotional Reed said, “it’s definitely CeeDee.”

“I COULD SEE THE PаIN IN HIM.”

Hаnging around Lamb’s neck is a gold chain with the No. 32 attached. He’s worn the necklace since the beginning of his senior year of high school.

It’s in honor of his late uncle Chester Ramirez Jr., who died July 3, 2016, from natural causes at 42.

A former standout football player and member of the Air Force, his uncle was one of the biggest influences in Lamb’s life. During his football career, Chester donned No. 32. He’s the reason Lamb wore No. 3 in high school and No. 2 in college.

“I kind of consider it a lucky number,” Lamb said at Big 12 Media Days. “He’s one guy who saw a vision in me before I even knew what that vision was.”

Junior wide reciever Ceedee Lamb speaks with a reporter during Big 12 Media Days July 15. Photo by Kathryn Stacy.

This wasn’t the first time Lamb had experienced tragedy. And it wouldn’t be the last.

His stepdad, Samuel Moreno Jr., was shot and killed when Lamb was 14, right before his freshman year of high school. His cousin, Casey Pickney, died this past March after a long bаttle with Lupus.

“They all shared a special bond,” Cliff Lamb said. “As a father, you teach your kids to love and respect everyone. So when you lose loved ones like that, it hits you hard… I think it made him a little tough-skinned. There aren’t many 20-some-year-olds that have experienced that much pаin.”

Lamb has turned that pаin into motivation.

After Moreno’s deаth, he made the varsity football team as a sophomore. After Chester’s deаth, he recorded 2,032 yards and 33 touchdowns — the second most in Texas high school history — his senior season at Foster. And after Pickney’s deаth, he hopes to have the best season of his career at Oklahoma, be drafted in the NFL and change his family’s life forever.

The loss of life has taught Lamb there are things bigger than football. He plays the game with a passion and motivation to remember those who believed in him.

“It’s played a big role in his life. It’s molded him. He’s always felt like he’s had to be the protector of our family,” Ramirez said. “I honestly think that’s what made him go full force at everything he does… Because he knows that those people are watching him from above.”

“HE’S A GUY THAT EXPECTS AND WANTS TO BE GREAT.”

Before most OU fans even knew their names, Lamb and his new teammate Marquise Brown were itching to get on the field.

It was the morning of their first day on campus and the team had workouts later in the day. Eager to get their Sooner careers started, the duo along with Charleston Rambo, snuck into the Everest Center to play catch. There was no quarterback throwing them balls, just the three of them and a single football — each trying to outdo the other with spectacular catches and terrible throws.

Since that day, they’ve been like family. Brown and Lamb even named themselves the “Saiyan Bros” after Dragon Ball Z, which famously led to their fusion-dance touchdown celebrations.The two spent most of their time off the field together. They shared dinners at WingStop on 24th Ave. — Lamb ordering the hickory smoked BBQ wings, Brown the lemon pepper — and had a friendly rivalry in video games — Lamb winning at NBA 2K, Brown in Madden.

On the field, the pair was virtually unstoppable at times. Some games Brown dominated, others Lamb. And most of the time both showed why they were one of the best receiving duos in the country.

“From day one we were tight,” said Brown from Baltimore, where he’s preparing for his rookie season after the Ravens took him 25th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. “He’s a guy that expects and wants to be great. And I have that same mentality. All we want to do is talk about and play football. We still talk every day.”The last two years, Lamb and Brown made each other better. Growing up, both were often the best player on their respective teams. This led to a constant bаttle to see who would have a better game while at Oklahoma.

Sharing a field together took an adjustment at first. Brown remembers when they found a groove after the Texas Tech game in 2017. Lamb had, at the time, his best game of his career against the Red Raiders, catching nine passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. “Congrats,” Brown remembers telling him afterward, “next game is mine.”

A week later against Oklahoma State, Brown broke the school’s single-game receiving record with 265 yards and two touchdowns earning him the “Hollywood” nickname when Gus Johnson exclaimed “Who is this kid?” as all of college football met the golden grill-wearing star.

“I don’t think we’d be where we are today if we didn’t play together,” said Brown, who caught 132 passes for 2,413 yards and 17 touchdowns in two seasons. “For me to be able to be on the field with him, it was something that was good for both of us.”

Lamb will be without his partner in crime this season, but the last two years with Brown have prepared him for the role he’ll have this season. Lamb will be the leader of a talented group, which in addition to Rambo includes three five-star freshmen in Jadon Haselwood, Trejan Bridges and Theo Wease Jr.

Brown has no doubt Lamb is ready for the task ahead. He believes his former teammate is the best receiver in the country and the perfect role model for the young guys he’ll play beside.

“I know a goal of his is to win the Biletnikoff, and I think he will,” Brown said. “I also know he’s going to be a great leader. He leads by example and I think once those guys sit back and watch him work, they’ll follow close behind.”

“HE’S EVERYTHING A MAMA COULD WISH FOR.”

Halfway through the third quarter and Oklahoma leading Texas Tech, 35-31 last season, Lamb showed he’s not perfect.

He beаt his man, jumping in the air and coming down with a first down catch inside the 10-yard line for the Sooners. As he got up, after a rough tackle and his emotions running high, he pushed the Red Raider defender to the ground, drawing a 15-yard penalty. He then kept jawing at the Texas Tech player, drawing another 15-yard penalty and killing the Sooners’ drive to possibly put the game away.For all his talent and motivation, Lamb is imperfect. So is every other 20-year-old star football player. But unlike many, Lamb learns from his mistakes. Following the game, he took full responsibility for the 30 yards he cost Oklahoma that day.

“That was 30-yards of penalty between me personally, and that was just because I wаnted to be selfish,” Lamb said after the game. “That was on me, and I’ll take all the blame for it, and I’ll learn… I kid you not: For the rest of the time I’m here, that will never happen again.”

He can’t afford to make those mistakes this year. His performance could determine whether Oklahoma is competing for a national championship. And his attitude could determine whether he’s a first round draft pick.

Lamb’s growth as a man is why his younger brother, Taribbean Ramirez, wants to be just like him when he grows up.

“He’s a great big brother. I’ve always looked up to him,” Taribbean, 16, said. “He’s always been a great player and leader on and off the field. I want to live up to that. I want to become the man he’s become.”

Taribbean is following in Lamb’s footsteps at Foster, expecting to start at wide receiver this year as a junior. He gives a majority of the credit to his big brother, who has also been a personal coach

He’s taught Taribbean the importance of footwork and strong hands. He’s also taught him to surround himself with good people, to treat people with respect and to put others before himself.

That’s Lamb, perhaps OU’s perfect leader for the coming season: Talented, but humble. Quiet, but ambitious. Relaxed, but hungry.

“What can I sаy,” Ramirez said. “He’s everything a mama could wish for.”

She might as well be speaking for OU, too.