Tag: Jaren Kanak

Media weighs in on Oklahoma’s breakout player, toughest game in 2023

OU and College Football Media Personalities weigh in on which Sooners will have a breakout season for Oklahoma in 2023. Which game will be the toughest this season?

The 2023 college football season is nigh upon us. The Oklahoma Sooners open the season with the Arkansas State Red Wolves coming to town.

A new year creates new opportunities for players on both sides of the ball to experience breakout seasons.

While depth was an issue a year ago, the work of this coaching staff on the recruiting trail and through the transfer portal have helped create competition at a number of spots. The Sooners feel good about the “competitive depth” they’re carrying into the season across the board.

Oklahoma released its depth chart ahead of week one, which provided some answers to the position battles they’ve been working through this year. But how will that depth reveal itself on gameday and which players will experience breakout seasons in 2023?

We’ve gathered the opinions of a number of media personalities from across Oklahoma Sooners coverage. Here’s who they think will have a breakout year and which game will be the toughest in 2023.

From my days covering the Dallas Cowboys for Inside The Star, this has been one of my favorite pieces to create.

Hope you enjoy.

‘A lot more technicalities to it’: Jaren Kanak ready to go after earning a starting spot

The depth chart has been released and Jaren Kanak is ready to prove he earned that starter spot.

Oklahoma’s lack of defensive success was due to several factors in 2022. A lack of depth on the roster led to overextending the linebacker position, among others.

Earlier this offseason, we outlined how much Oklahoma’s trio of Danny Stutsman, David Ugwoegbu, and DaShaun White played for the Sooners last year.

According to Pro Football Focus, only 11 off-ball linebackers played more than 900 snaps in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and three of them were Oklahoma Sooners. Toledo was the only other team that had multiple linebackers with more than 900 snaps on the season. – John Williams, Sooners Wire

Linebacker was up and down in 2022. Largely due to overuse but also because of the new system or position that the trio was working in.

[autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag] was playing the cheetah, something he had never played before. [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag] was a great leader, but [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] admitted he was someone who should have been a defensive end but had to play linebacker out of necessity. [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] had a really strong end to his season and looks to carry that over this season, but even he was up and down at times.

There’s no question the linebacker group will look a lot different in 2023. [autotag]Justin Harrington[/autotag] won the cheetah position spot and [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag] earned the starting spot next to Stutsman. The athleticism of this group is going to be a lot better than it was a season ago. They just don’t have the experience the previous group had.

Kanak talked to reporters and said learning the position has taken some time.

“There’s a lot more technicalities to it,” Kanak said. “In high school all I played was offense, and you know what you’re going to do and how to execute it. On defense, it’s a trained reaction. It’s knowing what to see and knowing when this happens, why I’ve got to do this, and who’s with me. Just the trained reaction of it, knowing where to put my eyes and knowing what to do when this happens, that’s kind of the bigger thing that I started adapting to.”

Kanak might still be learning the position and getting everything down, but he has Sooner fans excited about his potential. It’s a very real possibility this linebacker group could be the best Oklahoma has seen in many years.

Now, they still have to go out and prove it, and there will absolutely be some bumps along the way. Their first chance to prove it comes this Saturday in Norman.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

What are realistic expectations for Oklahoma Sooners in 2023?

Mapping out some realistic expectations for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2023.

The [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] are coming off their first under .500 season since 1998. Sure, there were signs that a down year might have been on the way, but this is Oklahoma, and that’s not the norm.

Oklahoma lost five games by seven or fewer points. They were one of the worst fourth-quarter teams in the country. They peaked early in the season and just looked exhausted the rest of the way.

But this offseason, they added players to help make sure they are a more talented and fresh team down the stretch.

Head Coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] is also taking a different approach to make sure they are efficient in keeping the guys healthy and rested.

So what can be expected in 2023?

I’m here to be honest with you. Expecting Oklahoma to go 12-0 or 11-1 just isn’t realistic. Nor is it realistic to expect 7-5 or 6-6. Can any of those scenarios happen? Absolutely, but it’s not realistic.

Let’s talk about why.

’It’s like night and day’: Jaren Kanak getting more comfortable at linebacker

After showing flashes as a true freshman, Jaren Kanak is feeling more comfortable playing linebacker.

Outside of [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], there could be an entirely new front seven in 2023, per head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. One of those positions could be occupied by Jaren Kanak who would be replacing [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag].

Kanak will be battling with [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag] and [autotag]Konnor Near[/autotag] to start in 2023. He was someone that not only was new to playing linebacker last year, but he was also new to playing defense full-time entirely.

In 2022, Kanak showed flashes of one day becoming an elite linebacker with his incredible athletic ability. This offseason he’s work to put it all together. Kanak said this offseason he’s starting to get more comfortable playing linebacker.

“It’s night and day,” Kanak said. “The linebacker room has made a commitment as much as we can to try and learn and get an in-depth knowledge of this defense. Just get out there so we can get comfortable and play fast and fully understand what’s going on around us and use that to our advantage.”

He also believes having Venables with the linebackers during drills in practice makes them want to take advantage of every rep. “Brent’s always watching us, every rep is important,” Kanak said. “We take every rep like it’s a first-team rep like it’s the last rep ever. Having that in the back of our head, even if he’s not watching, the eye in the sky is watching and the eye in the sky doesn’t lie. We all take every rep and every opportunity we get and try to take advantage of that as much as we can.”

There are still a few weeks to go before the start of the season and the battle for this position is over, but Kanak seems to be making waves. But with the addition of “competitive depth” this year, expect multiple people to get their shot during games throughout the season.

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One question for each position group ahead of Oklahoma Sooners’ fall camp

With fall camp right around the corner, here’s one question for each position group that the Oklahoma Sooners must answer before the season.

Big 12 media days are in the rearview mirror, which means fall camp is right around the corner ahead of the 2023 college football season.

The Oklahoma Sooners, like every team in college football, head into the season with question marks at a few positions. Even at positions where there are returning starters, there are certainly questions worth asking.

So as we get ready for the start of the 2023 college football season with fall camp coming in a couple of weeks, here is one question for each position group the Oklahoma Sooners must answer if they want to contend for the Big 12 title in 2023.

‘A great opportunity for the new guys’: Brent Venables excited about Sooners despite turnover

Despite a big roster turnover in their first year and a half, Brent Venables is feeling good about Oklahoma’s competitive depth.

The last 20 months in Norman have seen a coaching staff overhaul that led to roster turnover that highlights much of what college athletics has become.

The transfer portal, graduation and the NFL draft lead to turnover every year. After a coaching change, that turnover is exaggerated.

“We’ve had tremendous turnover, like a lot of people in this day and age of college football,” Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables said at Big 12 media days. “Like many people, there’s been tremendous roster turnover. We desire a roster of stability and consistency. I think that’s what lends to success and sustainability.”

[autotag]Venables[/autotag] relayed that 78.8% of his roster is in the first or second year with the program.

“We’ve got 123 players on team 129, and out of those 123 players, 97 of them will be in either their first or their second year at the University of Oklahoma,” Venables said. “Tremendous turnover, but I couldn’t be more excited about the group of guys.”

Venables added, “To me I look at it as a great opportunity for the new guys.”

Oklahoma’s banking on a lot of those new guys being significant contributors to the team’s success in 2023. As the transfer additions go, so likely will the Sooners’ Big 12 title aspirations.

Defensive additions [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag] and [autotag]Konnor Near[/autotag] are each expected to have big roles for Oklahoma this season.

“And then the addition – again, we’ve got nine guys, six guys up front, two All-American linebackers, a hard-hitting safety in [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag].” Venables said. “I believe we’ll be better up the middle of our defense, and I look at where we were at really at every single position, and we didn’t have the competitive depth a year ago.”

In particular, the lack of defensive depth was staggering.

At linebacker, the Sooners’ trio of [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag], and [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag] each played over 900 snaps. Only two players in Football Bowl Subdivision played more snaps than Stutsman. Adding depth at linebacker with McCullough and Near was critical. Their 2022 and 2023 linebacker signees add to that depth.

The 2022 guys have been in the program for more than a year now. [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag], [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag] and [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] will have bigger roles this season for the Sooners, which will help their linebacker play be better.

Tackle [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] and tight end [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag] should start on the offensive side of the ball. Guard [autotag]Caleb Shaffer[/autotag], wide receivers [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] and [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag], and defensive tackles [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag], [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] and [autotag]Phillip Paea[/autotag] are expected to compete for playing time.

The Sooners’ 2023 recruiting class could have guys be early X-factors on the field this season. At cornerback, [autotag]Jasaiah Wagoner[/autotag] and [autotag]Makari Vickers[/autotag] have been turning heads. The drumbeat for Peyton Bowen hasn’t slowed. [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag] has turned heads with his speed despite being on campus only a month or two.

“It goes without saying, we went 6-7 last year and fell well below our expectations and our standards at Oklahoma,” shared Venables. “But man, we learned and grew a lot as a football program. In five of the seven losses, it goes down to the last minute, two minutes of the game in the fourth quarter with a chance to win.

“We started the year pretty strong, and then we didn’t finish the year very well, particularly in, again, those fourth quarters of a bunch of games. We just didn’t have any juice left about the middle of the year on. The competitive depth will lead to better competitive stamina.”

The Sooners are hoping the improved competitive depth will lead to a more competitive defense that’s able to help close games for a team with lofty expectations.

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Oklahoma’s defense among 247Sports most improved units heading into 2023

The Oklahoma Sooners were included among 247Sports most improved units heading into the 2023 season.

Last year you couldn’t get much worse than the product Oklahoma put on the field defensively.

The Sooners ranked 122nd out of 131 teams in total defense. Part of that was because of how many snaps they played due to the offense going up-tempo and having several three-and-outs but also just because of poor play.

The Sooners did show signs of what they could become. Go back and watch the first three games, the Bedlam game, and the first half against West Virginia , and you can see what this defense can become.

But ultimately, they have to put it together. 247Sports included the Oklahoma defense among their most improved units ahead of 2023.

Oklahoma had major struggles on defense last season and second-year coach Brent Venables used his roster-building tactics to avoid a similar fate. Through the transfer portal, the Sooners added four defensive linemen, two linebackers and one defensive back. Oklahoma also excelled through high school recruiting, landing a couple five-stars in EDGE Adepoju Adebawore and safety Peyton Bowen. They also brought in four-star safety Makari Vickers, cornerback Jasiah Wagoner and JUCO product Kendel Dolby. – 247Sports’ Raymond Lucas Jr.

There’s no doubt the Sooners saw areas of need and attacked them in the transfer portal. However, it’s not realistic to expect a complete turnaround.

Combine the new additions with a year in the system, and there should be a lot of improvements made.

Can Oklahoma get into the 60-80 range in total defense? It’s definitely possible. It needs to happen if they want to get where this team feels it can, back to the Big 12 title game.

The secondary has a chance to be the best unit on the team. The linebacker position, while not deep, should see a big jump in speed and athleticism with [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag], [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag], and [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] taking on more significant roles alongside [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag]. The defensive line should be improved with the addition of [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag] and the further development of guys like [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag], [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag], and [autotag]Isaiah Coe[/autotag].

I expect a nice jump defensively where we see more consistent play and consistent signs of what the defense can be. They will still have their duds and have poor games, but overall it should be and needs to be more consistent.

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Oklahoma’s Linebackers look to be the heart and soul of the defense

Led by Danny Stutsman, the Oklahoma’s linebackers will be the heart of the 2023 Sooners on defense.

There’s no secret: In [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ defense, the linebacker is the heart and soul of it.

It’s the position he coached and spent the most time with during his career. It will be essential for the unit to take another step if this defense is to improve in 2023.

The Sooners return [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], who led the Big 12 in tackles with 126 last season. Part of the reason is he never came off the field. Only two players played more snaps in 2022 than Danny Stutsman. He was really good in the first half, but in the second half, like the Sooners’ defense, he struggled. This year, the depth is better but unproven. Stutsman will likely be this team’s starting weak side linebacker

Next to him will be either [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag] or [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag]. They replacing [autotag]David  Ugwoegbu[/autotag], who was fourth in the Big 12 in tackles but transferred to the Houston Cougars to play his more natural position of defensive end.

While neither McKinzie nor Kanak bring the experience Ugwoegbu had, they bring the athleticism Ugwoegbu lacked.

Both should be key for the Sooners’ defense this year. Kanak brings incredible athleticism and can fly around the field, while McKinzie brings the power. If you could combine those two, they’d be the perfect linebacker.

After that, there are question marks. [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] flashes every time you watch him, but he has to add weight. He was incredibly productive in the spring game, leading the Sooners with 11 tackles.

[autotag]Shane Whitter[/autotag] has been around for a while. He got hurt last year but at least brings experience. He’s a really good rotation linebacker that could play a key role in keeping Stutsman fresh throughout games.

Can any of the freshmen make an impact? There’s a great deal of hype around [autotag]Lewis Carter[/autotag], [autotag]Samuel Omosigho[/autotag] and [autotag]Phil Picciotti[/autotag]. But as we saw last year with Kanak and McKinzie, it’s hard to get on the field as a freshman.

One thing is for certain. The coaches have to find ways to spell Stutsman and get him off of the field for a series or two during a game. If they do that, he could be primed for a breakout season that could garner postseason honors.

Overall as a unit, they have to be better.

Too often last year, they looked confused and out of place. They looked hesitant and weren’t trusting what they were seeing. That can’t happen this season if they want to achieve their goals as a defense.

But if there’s one person I’d never question when it comes to linebacker play, it’s Venables.

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5 Oklahoma Sooners primed for a breakout season in 2023

The Oklahoma Sooners are hoping to take a big step forward in 2023, and these five Sooners will be a big part of their improvement.

The Oklahoma Sooners may have lost some important pieces to the NFL this offseason, but they’re a program with an intriguing group of underclassmen ready to experience a breakout season.

Though several players still have roles they have to earn in fall camp, they’ve displayed the abilities that made them intriguing prospects on the recruiting scene or in the transfer portal.

As the Oklahoma Sooners look to improve from their 6-7 season, they’ll need a number of players to take significant jumps in play and production in 2023. The defense, in particular, needs to be much better.

So here are five players that will have a breakout season in 2023.

2023 Player Profile: Jaren Kanak gets an opportunity to make a big impact

Oklahoma linebacker Jaren Kanak is primed for a huge role in 2023.

Evaluating the current roster, Sooners Wire profiles the current players, with linebacker Jaren Kanak up.

Every year before the start of the college football season, Bruce Feldman of The Athletic chronicles some of the sport’s freakiest and jaw-dropping athletes. Guys of all positions and sizes feature on the list. While Oklahoma didn’t get one on the this year’s list, if there were a player you’d think will be on this list in future seasons, it would be rising sophomore linebacker Jaren Kanak.

Kanak came to Oklahoma as a small-town Kansas kid. Athletically, he’s one of one, and it’s not hard to imagine that if he had played high school ball at a 5A or 6A school in Texas, his recruitment would’ve gone a lot differently.

His draw to Oklahoma was to be coached by Brent Venables. In his first year, he showcased tantalizing glimpses of the player he could become.

While the numbers will not stand out because his limited knowledge of the playbook and experience kept him off the field, he still found ways to impact the game when he saw playing time. With excellent size for the position at 6-foot-2 and over 220 pounds, Kanak has a rare blend of size and speed.

This spring was about learning the intricacies of the defense, and along with Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma has a tenacious LB pairing.

Kanak is a significant piece of Oklahoma’s efforts to put the horrid defensive effort of 2022 behind it. Alongside Stutsman, Kanak should pencil in as the starter. David Ugwoegbu transferred out and is playing edge elsewhere.  Dashaun White is playing football professionally, and no one else on the depth chart beside sophomore Kip Lewis played any meaningful snaps last year. Kanak looks destined to be a starter and will have every opportunity to cement himself early on as a competent middle linebacker in Ted Roof’s defense.

Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Hays, Kansas

Ht: 6-2

Wt: 221 lbs

Class in 2023: Sophomore

247Sports Composite

Four-star prospect, No. 6 athlete, No. 1 player in Kansas

Career Stats

Defense & Fumbles Table
Tackles Def Int Fumbles
Year School Conf Class Pos G Solo Ast Tot Loss Sk Int Yds Avg TD PD FR Yds TD FF
*2022 Oklahoma Big 12 SO LB 13 7 17 24 1.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
Career Oklahoma 7 17 24 1.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 6/7/2023.

Depth Chart Overview

Kanak is a significant piece of Oklahoma’s efforts to put the defensive effort of 2022 behind it. Alongside Stutsman, Kanak should pencil in as a starter.

David Ugwoegbu transferred and is playing edge at Houston. DaShaun White is playing football professionally, and no one else on the depth chart besides sophomore Kip Lewis played any meaningful snaps last year.

Kanak looks destined to be a starter and will have every opportunity to cement himself early on as a competent middle linebacker in Ted Roof’s defense.

Jaren Kanak Player Picture Gallery