Tag: SEC Media Days

Brent Venables says Oklahoma Sooners aren’t intimidated by move to the SEC

Brent Venables took to the podium at SEC Media Days and expressed with confidence that the Oklahoma Sooners are “running to the SEC.”

There’s been so much talk about the challenge that the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns face moving to the SEC. The challenge is real, but so are the Oklahoma Sooners.

This is the program that’s won seven national titles and 50 conference championships. They have seven Heisman winners, including four in the last 20 years. This is a program that’s recruiting better than all but four teams over the last three recruiting cycles.

The week-to-week grind of the SEC will be different, but Oklahoma is entering the SEC with clear eyes about what lies ahead. And to hear [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] talk, the program is ready to meet the challenge head-on.

At [autotag]SEC media days[/autotag], Venables said, “Oklahoma isn’t intimidated as a football program. We’re running towards the SEC. I think that goes without saying. We’ve looked forward for the last several years for this partnership, to be a part of an amazing conference, the best conference in college football.”

The talent level is different in the SEC. For the 18th year in a row, the SEC was the conference with the most players taken in the NFL draft. They typically recruit on average better than any other conference. Venables and his staff were aware of that reality when they took over back in December of 2021.

That’s why it’s so important for the Sooners to have the success they’ve had on the recruiting trail. Because the only way that you’re going to compete in the SEC is to have talented rosters.

“We know the challenges from a roster standpoint, “Venables said. “The trenches are where this conference is decided, usually year in and year out. Incredibly challenging from that standpoint. The length, the speed, the play at quarterback, the coaching acumen from top to bottom.

“Again, you’re not going to sneak up anywhere, any week, in any venue, and show up and luck up and win. And so it’s a conference that’s about earning what you get, and I think going through it a season, you’ll figure that out. You’ll figure out what was good, what wasn’t good. The areas of your program, your roster that need improvement so that you can match up and have an opportunity to compete for championships.”

At the podium, Brent Venables was confident. But again, he’s had success against the SEC in the past.

Clemson’s two national title wins over Alabama served as the springboard for what Venables wants to build Oklahoma into. A team with an “exciting, fast, explosive and diverse offense, combined with a physical, punishing, relentless, suffocating defense.”

And they’re getting there. The way they’ve recruited from the high school ranks and in the transfer portal has set the Sooners up to have one of the highest blue-chip ratios in the country. It’s a talented depth chart that gives the Sooners an opportunity to make a statement in year one in the SEC.

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‘Proud Dad,’ Danny Stutsman says OU linebackers have grown up

OU’s linebackers, led by “proud father” Danny Stutsman, have developed since a rough 2022.

The Oklahoma Sooners bounced back in 2023, their second under the leadership of head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. OU’s 10-3 season followed up a dismal 6-7 year in 2022 that was derailed by, among other things, a poor defense in a rebuilding year.

Senior linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] has been a Sooner through it all, even the chaotic 2021 season when he was just a freshman. He was a member of that 2022 defense that gave up 30 points per game (99th in the country), leading to a 3-6 record in the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag].

Fast forward, and Stutsman was one of Oklahoma’s representatives at [autotag]SEC media days[/autotag] on Tuesday as the Sooners enter the conference for their first season in 2024.

Stustman was asked about his fellow linebackers, the group that caught the most criticism in 2022. Since then, the unit has improved drastically, but Stutsman illustrated just how much the younger players have grown up.

“I’m proud,” Stutsman said. “When I look at that team since the time they got on campus … it just puts a smile on my face seeing guys like [autotag]Lewis Carter[/autotag] and [autotag]Samuel Omosigho[/autotag] come in, to see where they are today, makes me so happy. Those guys are gonna be amazing players for the university. To see their growth and be a part of that, I feel like a proud dad. ”

Stutsman went on to say that throughout the linebacker rotation, he doesn’t expect a drop-off in skill or production, regardless of who’s on the field.

Carter and Omosigho are two young players who haven’t seen the field much yet, but their potential has Sooner fans excited for the future. But Stutsman’s remarks can apply to the entire linebacker room.

[autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] emerged as a starting option alongside Stutsman late last season, showcasing his speed and instincts. [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag] gained valuable experience as a starter before Lewis took over at midseason. [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag] is a thumper who is an SEC-ready physical stud on the second level of the defense. All were just getting started a couple of years ago, but Stutsman has watched them grow.

Brent Venables and new defensive coordinator/linebackers coach [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] benefitted in 2024 from Stutsman’s decision to return to school. They’ll also benefit from his mentorship to the future of the unit, which has already grown so much in the past couple of years.

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Pair of Oklahoma wide receivers could get more snaps to start the season

Oklahoma’s wide receiver room has the pieces to survive some early-season injuries to veteran players.

The Oklahoma Sooners are a month and a half from beginning the 2024 season, their first in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] spoke to reporters at [autotag]SEC media days[/autotag] on Tuesday, as OU took its turn at the podium.

The third-year coach addressed local media before taking the stage, updating On3 and SoonerScoop’s George Stoia about players rehabbing from offseason or spring ailments before the Sooners begin preseason fall camp.

Quarterback [autotag]Casey Thompson[/autotag], offensive lineman [autotag]Geirean Hatchett[/autotag] and cornerback [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag] are cleared and ready to go for August. Another member of the offensive line, [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag], is ahead of schedule from his spring football injury, and Venables expects him back sooner as opposed to later.

However, two members of Oklahoma’s wide receiver room have a little more uncertainty with fall camp around the corner.

Senior [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], who was injured in spring ball, is still recovering from a foot fracture. Venables said he didn’t have surgery and is taking it easy at this point. His status will be cleaerr when the week of the first game rolls around.

[autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] is still on the mend after getting injured in the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag] in October. Venables is hopeful the deep ball threat will be practicing before Aug. 30, but Anthony hasn’t been cleared yet.

The uncertainty of Farooq and Anthony is nothing to be downplayed, but it’d be even more of a problem most years in the wide receiver room. This year, however, is the exception. The position group is absolutely loaded in 2024.

Though leading receiver [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] is off to the pros, the Sooners have suitable replacements in the slot. [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] was a star in the spring after transferring from Purdue and [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag] was a standout in the 2023 recruiting class.

On the outside, if Farooq and/or Anthony miss significant time, two players are ready to step into an even brighter spotlight.

[autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] was a touchdown machine a year ago for the Sooners, making plenty of huge plays in 2023. He was electric, scoring 10 touchdowns and finishing with 798 yards receiving despite not stepping into the starting lineup until Anthony was hurt. He’d be a good bet to start on the outside, especially with the injuries factoring in.

[autotag]Jayden Gibson[/autotag] also saw more playing time in 2023 when Anthony went down. He came into his own as the season progressed, catching five touchdowns on just 14 receptions. He finished with 375 yards and could have pushed for a starting spot even if the entire receiver room was healthy. These two players, both from Venables’ first recruiting class in 2022, could see plenty of targets especially early in the season.

Behind them, wide receivers coach [autotag]Emmett Jones[/autotag] has [autotag]J.J. Hester[/autotag] and [autotag]Brenan Thompson[/autotag], who could also see an increase in playing time.

Anderson and Gibson are the pair that would benefit the most from more targets coming their way. Both possess tremendous upside. If one or both of them can develop great chemistry with quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], it might be tough to take them off the field, even when the veterans become healthy again.

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Why Kirby Smart compared Nick Saban to Darth Vader at SEC Media Days

Kirby Smart said WHAT about Nick Saban?

Former Alabama Crimson Tide football head coach Nick Saban and current Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart have shared an interesting relationship over the years. With Saban officially retired, the two are no loger adversaries on the field.

Smart had served as the Alabama football defensive coordinator under Saban from 2008-2015. Beginning in 2016, the two coaches were direct rivals, with Smart being hired as the Georgia head coach. Since then, they squared off in numerous primetime matchups, including multiple SEC title games and national championships.

Saban’s retirement from coaching doesn’t mean that he’s gone off to a secluded island to golf, he’s assumed a new role: media member.

Thoughout the 2024 offseason, Saban has made a view appearances on ESPN broadcasts, including the 2024 NFL draft and, most recently, the 2024 SEC Media Days.

While meeting with reporters, Smart joked about how odd it felt to talk to Saban about his team and the upcoming season. “It’s weird. The call I did to set up for [SEC] Media Days was like, ‘for 15 minutes, I’m going to share with him about my team?’ I feel like I’m giving answers to Darth Vader or something. It’s very different.”

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football news as the 2024 offseason progresses.

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Kirby Smart believes Oklahoma’s defense is on its way to being elite

Kirby Smart knows what championship-level defense looks like. He thinks Brent Venables can get the Sooners to that level.

Heavy hitters took the podium for Day 2 of [autotag]SEC media days[/autotag] in Dallas. The Oklahoma Sooners, Missouri Tigers, Tennessee Volunteers and Georgia Bulldogs were the four teams to share the spotlight on Tuesday.

One head coach, Georgia’s Kirby Smart, had high praise for the way [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] is building his roster and recruiting. He’s just the latest current or former coach that thinks OU is heading in the right direction under Venables’ leadership. Josh Heupel, Brian Kelly, Shane Beamer and Nick Saban also praised the transformation going on in Norman.

Colton Sulley of The Oklahoman relayed that Smart joined the chorus with remarks about OU’s head coach.

“As he gets the players he’s recruiting more and more, they’re going to be a dominant defensive football team,” Smart said.

That’s music to Oklahoma fans’ ears after slipping in defensive talent and production under the previous regime. Brent Venables was hired, in part, because his ability to recruit and develop defensive talent is among the best in college football.

Venables is already acquiring young, elite defensive talent through recruiting. [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag], [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag], [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] and others liek them weren’t coming to Norman before Venables arrived.

Smart clearly knows what he’s talking about when it comes to defense. He’s a former defensive coordinator himself and has built a juggernaut in Athens as a head coach. Georgia won the national championship in 2021 and 2022, and no one would be surprised if they won again in 2024. Smart’s idea of a “dominant defensive football team” is one that can win multiple national titles.

If Venables does bring an elite defense back to Owen Field that helps him win multiple national championships, he’ll have a statue outside the stadium next to his former boss, [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag]’.

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A bulked up Adepoju Adebawore could be a nightmare for SEC offenses

The former five-star prospect is much heavier than he was when he walked on campus and ready to terrorize QBs in the SEC.

Day 2 of [autotag]SEC media days[/autotag] featured [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and the Oklahoma Sooners.

Venables, quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman [/autotag], and safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] had plenty to say about this year’s team while on the mic. However, one note from the head coach before OU’s time at the podium was eye-opening.

Venables shared with the media in attendance that true sophomore defensive end [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag] is over 260 pounds entering fall camp. The former five-star prospect in the [autotag]2023 recruiting class[/autotag] weighed 240 pounds exiting high school, according to Rivals. That means that the speedy pass-rusher has gained over twenty pounds since arriving in Norman. He was one of three five-star prospects in that historic class, along with Arnold and safety [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag].

Adebawore played in all 13 games last season after enrolling at OU in January 2023. He was a consensus five-star and top-25 national recruit, ranked as the No. 4 player in the country by On3, No. 9 by 247Sports, No. 20 by ESPN, and No. 21 by Rivals. He was regarded as the nation’s second-best edge prospect by 247Sports, On3 and ESPN, and No. 3 by Rivals. Adebawore ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the state of Missouri by all four services and was a 2022 Under Armour All-American. He chose Oklahoma over Arkansas, Missouri, and Northwestern, among others.

Adebawore had a limited role in his true freshman season, but still made his presence felt at times during the year. He could be in line for more playing time at defensive end in 2024, and his upside is nearly limitless.

The Sooners lost plenty of depth and experience on the defensive line this offseason, but return [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] to lead the way. However, Adebawore provides the talent in a pass-rushing role that Oklahoma needs in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

Oklahoma is entering a trenches conference, where the lines of scrimmage win and lose football games. An elite pass rusher like Adebawore, who has the potential to develop, would go a long way towards winning in 2024 and beyond.

He might not be on everyone in the SEC’s radar yet, but now that he’s spent some time under the tutelage of Jerry Schmidt and bulked up this offseason, he may be wreaking havoc in a backfield near you soon.

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Nick Saban predicts Georgia and Texas to meet in the 2024 SEC Championship Game

Georgia and Texas to square off in 2024 SEC Championship game according to Nick Saban

The 2024 college football season will be unlike any other with conference realignment in full swing, the introduction of the 12-team Playoff, and the retirement of legendary former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban.

Saban spent 17 years with the Crimson Tide and five years with the LSU Tigers racking up a staggering seven national championships, 11 SEC titles, and five SEC Coach of the Year awards. During the ten years of the four-team Playoff, Saban guided Alabama to seven appearances, so his retirement opens the door for several SEC programs.

However, Saban couldn’t stay away from the sport as he joined ESPN shortly after leaving Alabama as an analyst and will be a part of the College GameDay crew this fall. With SEC media days taking place this week, Saban has been in attendance, but as a member of the media sharing his two cents on the upcoming season.

ESPN’s Greg McElroy and Benjamin Watson alongside Saban shared their pre-season predictions for the SEC. Watson predicted that the Ole Miss Rebels and Georgia Bulldogs would meet in the SEC title, but McElroy and Saban predicted the Texas Longhorns would compete for an SEC title in their first year. McElroy projects that Texas will take on Alabama while Saban projects that Texas will square off against Georgia. Saban says of the Longhorns,

“I think Texas, if their defense comes through and they can replace some of the interior people they lost that were high draft picks and all that, they’re really good offensively. And even though their quarterback has missed time – Ewers has missed time the last couple years – Manning was lights-out in the spring game. Like, Arch was like, 21 for 25 for 347 yards.

That depth at quarterback is probably really important for them because Ewers has missed time the last couple years, a game or two, which could really affect where you end up. So I really like Texas. I think Georgia’s got a really good team, but I believe in our Alabama team, too – I believe in Jalen Milroe. I just think the question marks in the secondary, until those get resolved, it’s hard to sort of jump on that bandwagon.”

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Vols looking ‘to hit the ground running’ with Nico Iamaleava

2024 SEC media days: Tennessee football looking to hit the ground running with Nico Iamaleava

Redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava enters his first season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback in 2024.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound signal-caller appeared in five games, including starting the Vols’ win against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl, as a freshman last season.

Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media on Tuesday at SEC media days at Omni Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

He discussed Iamaleava entering fall training camp as Tennessee’s starting quarterback.

“We want him to hit the ground running,” Heupel said. “He’s a young quarterback. Played really well in the bowl game. He’s going to continue to grow. Through all of his experiences here, throughout the course of the season, he’s only going to continue to get better from all of those.

“We expect him to play at a really high level from the very beginning, and we need that from him.”

PHOTOS: Nico Iamaleava wins first career start at Tennessee

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Josh Heupel ‘looking forward’ to having a great training camp with Chris Brazzell

2024 SEC media days: Josh Heupel is looking forward to having a great training camp with Chris Brazzell

Southeastern Conference football media days kicked off on Monday at Omni Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media on Tuesday in Dallas.

Heupel was asked about Tulane transfer wide receiver Chris Brazzell II ahead of the 2024 season.

“It’s always a luxury as a quarterback to have guys that have the ability to separate, create bigger windows, to have length, to go up and attack the football, have the skill set to defeat press at the line of scrimmage, let you get the ball out of your hands, not sit back there and take a bunch of hits,” Heupel said. “Chris is somebody that’s got a lot of talk about because of what he’s done on the field. Been a great teammate, but he’s been a dynamic playmaker up until this point as we went through spring ball, and his best is still coming.

“He’s continued to grow and mature physically. Just his strength, explosiveness, size to his frame, what he’s done since he got there in January, really excited about him and looking forward to having a great training camp with him.”

The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Brazzell appeared in 15 games at Tulane from 2022-23. He recorded 45 receptions, 722 receiving yards and five touchdowns for the Green Wave.

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Josh Heupel excited for return to Norman in September

Former quarterback and offensive coordinator Josh Heupel excited to return to Norman with the Tennessee Volunteers.

Oklahoma’s first game in the SEC will also mark the first starts in SEC competition for former five-star quarterbacks [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and Nico Iamaleava. But another first will also occur on September 21 when the Tennessee Volunteers roll into Norman.

It will be the first time for national championship winning quarterback and former offensive coordinator [autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag] to be at Oklahoma. Despite the distance between OU and one of the most beloved players and coaches in its history, Heupel’s excited for his return.

“First time I will have been back,” Heupel said. “It’ll be unique for myself to be on the other side of the sideline. Obviously there’s been a lot of Saturdays where I was on the home sideline. But there are so many great teammates, friends that will be there. Got great respect for the university, the program. A lot of friends that are coaching on the opposing sideline that day, former teammates that will be coaching on that opposing sideline, too. So it’ll be unique to be back there, but excited to be there.”

Much of the fanfare on that Saturday in September will come from the on the field introduction of the Sooners to the SEC. It will be an incredible environment and the eyes of the football world will be on how Brent Venables’ squad performs.

At the same time, everyone’s eager to welcome Heupel back to town. When asked if he could have foreseen being on the opposing sideline from Oklahoma and former colleague Brent Venables, Heupel shared his respect for Venables, saying, “Brent, I got great respect for Brent, playing while he was coaching, but also being beside him in the staff room.”

In a business that comes down to performance and wins and losses, what lasts beyond that are the relationships. And the return provides Heupel an opportunity to reunite with former teammates, friends, coaches, and the administrators he’s know for more than two decades.

“I think it’s an exciting time to be in this league and really unique that I’ll have an opportunity to go back to Oklahoma,” Heupel said. “It’ll be a completely different viewpoint on that Saturday afternoon or evening, whenever the game is. But it’ll be unique for me. Got family that still lives back there. A lot of friends, teammates, coaches that I stay in contact that coached me while I was there, and obviously administration, too. So it’ll be a unique Saturday.”

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