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USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Brent Venables among coaches that can improve their stock
Brent Venables among coaches that can improve their stock Every season, plenty of head coaches come into the fall with something to prove. In the case of Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables, he's looking to prove that he does, in fact, belong as a head coach at the highest level of this sport. After a 6-7 season in 2022, Venables got on track with a 10-3 season in 2023. But regressing back to a 6-7 record in 2024 has fans and analysts alike wondering if Venables has what it takes to lead the Sooners. He's made some massive changes to the program this offseason to try and set himself up as best as he possibly can for Year 4 overall and Year 2 in the SEC. Will Backus, who covers college football for CBS Sports, believes that Venables is on a shortlist of Power Four head coaches who have a chance to improve their stock the most this year. Backus cites the new offensive battery of Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer as the primary reasons why. Venables' Sooners did not take the SEC transition well. Sure, they pulled off a gigantic upset against Alabama, but they were outscored by an average of 15 points in their other four games against ranked conference opponents and then capped the whole campaign with a loss against Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl. So, in an effort to ensure Oklahoma doesn't fall too far behind, Venables made sweeping changes in the offseason. He'll handle defensive play-calling duties while handing the offensive coordinator role to Ben Arbuckle, who engineered some of the nation's most effective passing offenses at Western Kentucky and Washington State. Arbuckle's Wazzu QB, John Mateer, followed him to Norman. Oklahoma also signed five wide receiver transfers to bolster a position decimated by injuries and portal departures. As long as the offensive line takes a big leap, the rest of Oklahoma's offense should follow, and that would mean improvement for the Sooners. - Backus, CBS Sports The offensive coordinator-quarterback relationship is becoming increasingly important in the transfer portal-NIL era of college football. The Sooners look like they'll have one of the nation's best in 2025 after having one of the nation's worst in 2024. Venables and Sooner Nation hope that an improved offensive output can lead to more victories this fall in Norman. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
USA Today
11-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners attending NFL Rookie Minicamps
Oklahoma Sooners attending NFL Rookie Minicamps The Oklahoma Sooners had just two players chosen in April's 2025 NFL Draft, breaking a streak of 22 straight seasons with at least three players selected. But, plenty of former OU standouts will be getting their first taste of the NFL this week, as rookie minicamps are happening all over the league. NFL rookie minicamps are three days long, and consist of draft picks, undrafted free agents, and non-roster invitees. All 32 teams hold one during one of the first two weekends in May. Oklahoma's two draftees were the two best players on the team in 2024. Linebacker Danny Stutsman was picked 112th overall in the fourth round by the New Orleans Saints. Defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. was selected 118th overall in the fourth round by the Atlanta Falcons. The two were the veteran leaders of the team in Year 1 in the SEC, and both spent four seasons in Norman. The Sooners also had plenty of players sign with teams as undrafted free agents; earning contracts despite their UDFA status. Offensive lineman Michael Tarquin signed with the Carolina Panthers. Defensive lineman Da'Jon Terry signed with the Los Angeles Rams. Defensive lineman Ethan Downs signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Defensive lineman Trace Ford signed with the New York Giants. But OU also had a slew of players who get to continue their dreams of pro football with a minicamp invite. They'll be longshots to make the roster, but they've still got a chance to impress the teams that extended an invite to them. Punter Luke Elzinga will attend minicamp with the Tennessee Titans. He was excellent in his season-and-a-half as a starter, and was a force for the Sooners last year. Tight end Jake Roberts has accepted minicamp invites from both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders. He spent just one season in his hometown of Norman, being mostly used as a blocking tight end. He caught the final touchdown of the season in the Armed Forces Bowl loss against Navy. Defensive lineman Caiden Woullard will attend minicamp with the Indianapolis Colts. He also spent just one year in Norman, and played well at defensive end for Miguel Chavis. His collegiate career began at Miami (Ohio). Offensive lineman Spencer Brown also spent one season as a Sooner. He'll attend minicamp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and arrived in Norman via Michigan State for the 2024 season. Defensive back Woodi Washington accepted a minicamp invite from the Baltimore Ravens. Like Stutsman, Bowman and Downs, he was a veteran leader on the defense a season ago. Washington was the longest-tenured Sooner in 2024. Of the 19 draft-eligible Sooners from last year's roster, 17 entered the draft. Of those 17 players, 11 will get to show what they've got in rookie minicamps and try to begin finding their place in the National Football League. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking the 2025 SEC football head coaches from worst-to-best
Ranking the 2025 SEC football head coaches from worst-to-best Even despite the conference having lost the greatest of all-time last offseason, the SEC is still home to some of the top head coaches in college football. If you needed an example of this, well, just take a look at some of the names alone, a group that includes numerous veterans of the sport, but also some rising head coaches as well. Also, if you had to rank that group entering the 2025 college football season, how would you do it and how would you decide? Would it be based on recent success, or their overall history at that respective program? RELATED: Ranking the projected 2025 SEC starting quarterbacks from worst-to-best Well, here is a ranking of who we think are the SEC's top 2025 football head coaches from worst-to-best, starting with No. 16. 16. Jeff Lebby, Mississippi State Bulldogs Lebby's first season in Starkville was among the worst in Mississippi State history, ending with a 2-10 record (0-8 in SEC) to miss a bowl game. The first-time head coach enters year two at Mississippi State in 2025. 15. Clark Lea, Vanderbilt Commodores Lea's 2024 season at Vanderbilt was undoubtedly his best yet in Nashville, ending with a 7-6 record (3-5 in SEC) to win the Birmingham Bowl. The 2024 SEC Coach of the Year, Lea owns a combined 16-33 overall record across four seasons at Vanderbilt. 14. Sam Pittman, Arkansas Razorbacks Pittman and the Razorbacks are coming off a season that saw Arkansas finish with a 7-6 record (3-5 in SEC) to win the Liberty Bowl. His third bowl victory in as many games in Fayetteville, Pittman enters year six at Arkansas with a combined record of 30-31, and has yet to eclipse the 10-win mark, coming closest with a 9-4 season back in 2021. 13. Hugh Freeze, Auburn Tigers Freeze is coming off his second-straight losing season in as many years at Auburn, ending 2024 with a 5-7 record (2-6 in SEC) to miss a bowl game. Entering year three, Freeze has a combined 11-14 record at Auburn, and has not led a team to a 10-win season since doing so at Liberty back in 2020. 12. Mark Stoops, Kentucky Wildcats One of the longest tenured SEC head coaches, Stoops is coming off a down season at Kentucky where the Wildcats finished with a 4-8 record (1-7 in SEC) to miss their first bowl game since 2015. Stoops enters year No. 13 with the Wildcats owning a combined 77-73 record that includes two 10-win seasons. Elko's first season at Texas A&M ended with a 8-5 record (5-3 in SEC) to lose in the Las Vegas Bowl. Now entering his second year in College Station, Elko is also in his fourth season as a head coach, with the best previous record a 9-4 mark at Duke back in 2022. 10. Brent Venables, Oklahoma Sooners Venables' first season as a head coach in the conference featured a 6-7 record (2-6 in SEC) that resulted in a loss during the Armed Forces Bowl. Entering his fourth season at Oklahoma, Venables owns a combined 22-17 record, which includes a 10-win season back in 2023. 9. Billy Napier, Florida Gators Napier's third season in Gainesville was likely his best yet, ending the year with an 8-5 record (4-4 in SEC) to win the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. Entering year four, Napier holds a combined 19-19 record during his time at Florida, and has yet to eclipse the 10-win mark. 8. Shane Beamer, South Carolina Gamecocks Year four of Beamer at South Carolina was likely his best yet, finishing with a 9-4 record (5-3 in SEC) to fall in the Citrus Bowl. Beamer enters year five at South Carolina boasting a combined 29-22 record, but has yet to record a 10-win season, as well as make the College Football Playoff. 7. Eliah Drinkwitz, Missouri Tigers Drinkwitz eclipsed the 10-win mark for the second time at Missouri, ending 2024 with a 10-3 record (5-3 in SEC) to win the Music City Bowl. The Missouri head coach enters year six in Columbia this fall sporting a combined 38-24 record, and has led the Tigers to two 10-win seasons over that span. 6. Josh Heupel, Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee's first-ever College Football Playoff appearance came during the 2024 season under Heupel in which the Volunteers finished with a 10-3 record (6-2 in SEC), losing in the first round. Heupel enters year five with Tennessee holding a combined 37-15 record that features two 10-win seasons. 5. Brian Kelly, LSU Tigers Year three for Kelly in Baton Rouge was likely his most difficult so far, ending with a 9-4 record (5-3 in SEC) to win the Texas Bowl. Kelly now enters 2025 with a combined 29-11 record across three seasons at LSU, two of which the Tigers have eclipsed the 10-win mark, however with no College Football Playoff appearances. 4. Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Crimson Tide DeBoer's first season at Alabama featured a 9-4 record (5-3 in SEC) with a loss in the ReliaQuest Bowl, missing the College Football Playoff. DeBoer is however only two seasons removed from leading Washington to the national title game, and likely has Alabama positioned to contend for a CFP spot in 2025. 3. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Rebels Kiffin and Ole Miss are coming off a 2024 season in which the Rebels missed the College Football Playoff with a 10-3 record (5-3 in SEC), winning the Texas Bowl. Entering his sixth season at Ole Miss, Kiffin owns a combined 44-18 overall record in Oxford with three 10-win seasons, but has yet to make the CFP. 2. Steve Sarkisian, Texas Longhorns Year four for Sarkisian at Texas was likely his best yet, finishing with a 13-3 record (7-1 in SEC) to make the College Football Playoff, reaching the semifinal. Now entering year five in Austin, Sarkisian has an overall record of 38-17 at Texas with two 10-win seasons, and has the Longhorns positioned to contend once again in 2025. 1. Kirby Smart, Georgia Bulldogs Smart's 2024 season at Georgia ended with an 11-3 record (6-2 in SEC) with a loss in the Sugar Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff, the Bulldogs' first three-loss campaign since 2018. Entering year No. 10 at Georgia this fall, Smart owns a combined 105-19 record with two national championships as head coach of the Bulldogs, and could easily contend for No. 3 in 2025. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma quaterback Cole Gonzales enters transfer portal, per reports
Oklahoma quaterback Cole Gonzales enters transfer portal, per reports Oklahoma quarterback Cole Gonzales will not serve as the backup to Sooners' starting quarterback John Mateer next season, leaving sophomore Michael Hawkins Jr. as the top reserve. That's because Gonzales, who committed to Oklahoma out of the transfer portal at Christmas, has re-entered the transfer portal, according to reports. A two-time Walter Payton Award finalist, Gonzales did not win the starting job during spring ball as Washington State transfer John Mateer handled things in his first spring in Norman. Gonzales was a sought-after recruit in the portal for a former FCS player. The Walter Payton Award is the FCS equivalent of the Heisman Trophy at that level. Gonzales was leading all of NCAA football, including FBS, in passing last year through eight games before missing the final four games of the regular season with an injury. Mateer won the job, as expected, during spring camp. Mateer threw for almost 3,200 yards with 29 touchdowns against seven interceptions with the Cougars last year. He also ran for 826 yards and 15 scores. With Gonzales having just one season of eligibility remaining, his entry into the portal Thursday was not unexpected. Hawkins played in seven games last year as the primary backup to Jackson Arnold, who transferred to Auburn in December. His best individual game came after Arnold entered the portal in the Armed Forces Bowl. Against Navy, Hawkins completed 28 of 43 passes for 247 yards with two touchdowns. Hawkins came up big in the Sooners win over Auburn, running for a long touchdown and hitting wide receiver J.J. Hester for a big play to get Oklahoma back in the game. With Gonzales on his way out the door, here's a look at the quarterback depth chart for the Oklahoma Sooners. Starter John Mateer Backup Michael Hawkins Jr. QB3 Jett Niu Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
USA Today
26-02-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Senior Bowl executive director will now work with Oklahoma football program as GM
Senior Bowl executive director will now work with Oklahoma football program as GM The Oklahoma Sooners made a big boy hire when they coaxed Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy to join the football program as general manager. This might be the biggest hire of head coach Brent Venables' short tenure. The locals are getting restless with Oklahoma, a program not known for losing, has finished below .500 in two of three seasons under his leadership. With the ever-changing landscape of college football, the addition of Nagy is massive. The announcement was made on Wednesday. "The University of Oklahoma has hired Jim Nagy as the General Manager for Football while implementing a progressive new structure uniquely tailored to meet the most current challenges in college football. The general manager will work alongside the head football coach to construct a roster capable of competing at a championship level," per the Oklahoma press release. The Sooners are coming off their first season in the SEC, where they finished 6-7 with a loss to Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl. Oklahoma also went 2-6 in conference play with wins over Auburn on the road and Alabama at home. The vision is that Nagy can help close the gap and get the Sooners back to where they were when competing for the CFP and conference titles yearly. Nagy can lean on his experience of working in NFL scouting departments and as the executive director of the Reese's Senior Bowl.
