Tag: Ted Roof

Oklahoma Sooners set for major defensive retooling after 6th starter departs

With six defensive departures (thus far), the Oklahoma Sooners will need to replace more than half of their defensive starters from 2021.

Every off-season in college football is filled with departures and arrivals. Roster turnover is par for the course. It’s just a matter of how much and at what level of significance each team participates in the roster retooling during the off-season.

Heading into 2022, the Oklahoma Sooners defense will be facing a major overhaul.

Nik Bonitto, Perrion Winfrey, Isaiah Thomas, Brian Asamoah, and Delarrin Turner-Yell have declared for the 2022 NFL draft. Safety Pat Fields announced that he’s headed to Stanford to pursue a Masters in Management Science and engineering.

That’s six defensive starters from a 2021 squad that saw more improvement this season.

It’s not unexpected, but it certainly poses some questions for new head coach Brent Venables and defensive coordinator Ted Roof.

On the brights side, the Sooners still have quite a few players that are on an upward trajectory. Woodi Washington and D.J. Graham are really good on the outside, despite some of the big plays Oregon was able to come up with in the Alamo Bowl. David Ugwoegbu is a playmaker that has room to improve. Jalen Redmond is a stud interior defensive lineman to build your front four around. And then there’s Key Lawrence, who was a revelation as the do everything defender, playing safety, corner, and slot corner and making plays for the Sooners defense.

The Alamo Bowl gave us a glimpse of the future, and the future is bright.

Marcus Stipling was living in the Oregon Ducks backfield. On the opposite side, Ethan Downs flashed and made plays. Billy Bowman who was up and down early in the season before ceding the starting slot corner job to Justin Broiles looked good against Oregon. Danny Stutsman and Shane Whitter are promising linebackers who have the athleticism and playmaking ability to be great players for Oklahoma in 2022 and in the future.

While it’s certainly startling to see more than half of your defenses starters exit at one time. At the same time, they have a lot of potential with their current group and guys like Kobie McKinzie on the way. And then there’s the new shiny head coach that will be a game changer on the defensive side of the field himself.

Every off-season, every team in college football experiences a certain amount of turnover and this year, the Oklahoma Sooners will face that challenge. The next nine months will be pivotal to figuring out what the Oklahoma Sooners defense will look like. Despite losing the star power, there’s a chance this team will still be good on that side of the ball.

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3 stars from the Oklahoma Sooners 47-32 win over the Oregon Ducks in the Valero Alamo Bowl

Who were the Oklahoma Sooners 3 stars from their 47-32 Alamo Bowl win over the Oregon Ducks?

Another season has reached its end for the Sooners and while it didn’t end with them hoisting a national title, they were able to end it on a high note with a win against a ranked opponent in the Oregon Ducks. The dominant win gives them some momentum as they head towards some time off and then winter workouts.

Months ago if you said that Bob Stoops would be the interim head coach for this bowl game with Brent Venables, the head coach in waiting someone would’ve considered having you institutionalized but we somehow found ourselves in that situation.

Now that the game is over and Stoops has officially and symbolically passed the torch on to Venables, the Sooners are ready to roll into the future. But last night’s performance gave us one more glimpse at this year’s team with a few guys standing out in San Antonio one last time. So let’s check out this week’s three stars!

Caleb Williams, QB

While he still has a massive decision looming, nothing seemed to be weighing too heavily on Caleb Williams’ mind as he put together a complete performance to close out an absolute whirlwind of a true freshman year.

Against the Ducks, Williams completed 21 of 27 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns while rushing seven times for 34 yards. For the sixth time this season, he threw at least two touchdown passes.

After an opening drive that stalled out, it seemed like Williams and first-time play-caller Cale Gundy found exactly how to attack Oregon and never let up as the offense roared up and down the field.

Williams looked decisive, composed in the pocket, and threw some absolute lasers to receivers Jalil Farooq, Mario Williams, and a bomb like the one below to Marvin Mims.

After showing some noticeable development in his pocket presence, Williams wrapped up his true freshman year on a great note.

He heads into an offseason clouded with a major decision to make in regards to where he will play next year. If this was his last hurrah with Oklahoma, it was a heck of a lasting impression. And if it wasn’t, he provided yet another glimpse at what makes Williams such a fascinating player.

Up Next: Running Game Impressive

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Oklahoma offers four-star safety Derek Williams Jr. out of Louisiana

Oklahoma offered consensus four-star safety Derek Williams Jr. from Westgate High School in New Iberia, La.

Oklahoma isn’t waiting on its official departure to the Southeastern Conference to go ahead and start planting its roots.

The Sooners’ Southeast recruiting push continued last night when Oklahoma offered consensus four-star safety Derek Williams Jr. out of Westgate High School in New Iberia, La.

The 6-foot-2, 185 pound safety is rated highest overall by 247Sports where the recruiting service has Williams Jr. ranked as the 45th-best player in the class of 2023 nationally.

Rivals has Williams Jr. rated as the nation’s No. 2 safety, while 247Sports has him ranked as the nation’s No. 3 safety. Both ESPN and On3 have Williams Jr. ranked as the nation’s No. 4 safety.

Williams Jr. holds offers from a bevy of other programs such as Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Texas and Texas A&M.

The Sooners’ 2023 class currently has a pair of players committed, four-star Los Alamitos, Calif., wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. and three-star Durango, Colo., interior offensive lineman Joshua Bates.

OU signed four-star safety Robert Spears-Jennings from Broken Arrow, Okla., on the first day of the Early Signing Period back on Dec. 15 in its 2022 class.

According to 247Sports, OU has offers out to 10 other safeties in the 2023 recruiting class: Joenel Aguero, Peyton Bowen, Braxton Myers, Jamel Johnson, Rahmir Stewart, Sylvester Smith, Elliot Washington, Deldrick Madison, Jordan Castell and Braylon Johnson.

Williams Jr. and the rest of these offers can expect to be hearing from the Sooners’ new safeties coach.

Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables announced his hiring of new safeties coach Brandon Hall on Dec. 17.

“Brandon is an Oklahoman and someone who worked with us for 10 years. He’s the epitome of what the coaching profession should be all about, as far as development, putting in the work, creating opportunities through relationships and sweat equity, figuring stuff out, being mentored, having humility and taking some chances. I’m really proud about his growth and development. He was one of the first people I met when I came to Oklahoma in 1999 when he was a student assistant. To see him continue to bloom at each of his stops has been really cool for me, all the way to being one of the best defensive coordinators in college football the last few years at Troy. He’s been a leader, he’s loyal, he’s tough, he’s smart, he’s really innovative and he connects well with the players. They’re in for a treat,” Venables said of Hall.

Hall also discussed his excitement to return to Oklahoma as the next OU safeties coach in a statement on Dec. 17.

“When people talk about ‘going home,’ this is actually true in my case. I was born in Norman, so Oklahoma is a special place for me. I started my career here under Coach (Bob) Stoops, and both he and Coach Venables took a chance on me. They’re a big reason I’m here. I’ve always believed that your identity as a coach is your foundation, and my foundation is Coach Stoops and Coach Venables. I’ve been able to go out and develop my own style and develop as a coach and person, but to be able to come back and be a part of the OU tradition is something I can’t describe. Who I am as a coach and as a person has really been impacted by those two and how they approach the game – their aggressiveness, their tenacity and their standards.

“Coach Venables to me has always been about, ‘OK, this is the standard; this is how we’re going to operate and this is how we’re going to live.’ It’s impacted me not only as a coach but in my personal life as well. When he called and asked me to join him at OU, it really wasn’t a question for me. It was, ‘I’m in.’ This place is special to me. I’m going to do everything I can each day to live up to those expectations and standards, because if there’s anybody who understands them, it’s me. I’m looking forward to growing and being a part of it all. There are great, great things ahead for this program,” Hall said in his statement.

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Sooners send out offer to fast rising 2024 two-way player Sammy Brown

2024 star out of Jefferson, Georgia Sammy Browns gets an offer to play for the Oklahoma Sooners.

While as a collective, Sooner fans and Sooner media alike are thinking about the possible ways the Sooners can close out the 2022 recruiting cycle with a bang, Venables and his staff are on the way to getting recruiting back on schedule as they have already begun to send out offers for 2024.

One of those offers goes to Sammy Brown, a running back and linebacker out of Jefferson, Georgia. Brown slots in at number five nationally and has offers from Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and South Carolina to go with his Oklahoma offer.

It’s only a matter of time before other big programs across the country submit their names into the mix for a prospect who’s very likely to be a top 50 prospect nationally.

While Brown is a two-way player, the Sooners see him as a linebacker as evidenced by him tagging Venables and new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Ted Roof in his tweet confirming his offer.

Brown looks like a throwback linebacker that will make Sooners fans do a double-take and have them thinking they are watching a clone of Sooners legend Brian Bosworth with a mullet that one could only find straight out of the 80’s.

The Sooners look to be major players in the linebacker market constantly with Venables at the helm. Venables is a former linebacker himself and has coached some very talented linebackers to the highest honors in college football. He and Ted Roof will have a stacked cupboard of linebacker talent over the next few years and positioning themselves to add a player like Sammy Brown will only keep that wealth of talent stocked and ready to go.

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

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Final Thoughts on the Oklahoma Sooners Coaching Change

With Brent Venables staff coming together, here are some final thoughts on the Sooners coaching change that took place the last two weeks.

It’s been two weeks since the smoke’s cleared on the departure of the former Oklahoma Sooners head coach. Now a week into the Brent Venables tenure, we’re beginning to see a plan formulate as to what his coaching staff will look like. We’re also seeing a plan unfold on the recruiting trail as Venables and his staff shift their focus to talents in the southeast, namely in Florida.

It’s a new day in Norman as the long-lost son of Oklahoma Football returns to reignite a program that had been trending in the wrong direction since Lincoln Riley was named the head coach.

As we turn the page on one story and begin to write a new one, here are some final thoughts on the coaching change.

Clemson director of player development Thad Turnipseed joining Oklahoma staff per reports

Tiger Illustrated’s Larry Williams reports that Clemson director of player development Thad Turnipseed is joining Oklahoma.

Tiger Illustrated’s Larry Williams reported that Thad Turnipseed is leaving Clemson to join Brent Venables at Oklahoma.

Turnipseed served as Clemson’s director of player development, freshman transition and external affairs.

ESPN’s Chris Low confirmed the report and said that Turnipseed will serve as Venables’ “right-hand man.”

Without an official announcement from Oklahoma yet, it’s unclear what exactly Turnipseed’s role will be with the Sooners, but he’s worn a variety of hats in the past and chances are his job title at Oklahoma will be similar to the position he just vacated at Clemson.

Turnipseed’s background is interesting. He was a former Alabama football player that was part of the Crimson Tide’s 1992 national championship team whose career ended early because of knee injuries.

The story goes that Turnipseed owned a construction and flooring business when he was approached by former Alabama athletic director Mal Moore for a donation on a capital campaign Moore wanted to kick off.

Jokingly, Turnipseed responded that he couldn’t help much in terms of donations but that he could help build it.

What followed was Turnipseed became one of the most important behind-the-scenes figures at Alabama.

The New York Times’ Matt Fortuna wrote a great piece about Turnipseed ahead of the 2017 College Football Playoff’s national championship game.

Here’s a portion of what Fortuna wrote about Turnipseed at the time detailing his role to begin with at Alabama and some of what he wound up doing at Clemson.

He started as the director of capital projects, working his way up to roles as associate athletic director for special projects and, more important, as Saban’s director of football external affairs. The catchall job titles forced Turnipseed to perform many duties; he helped to design and oversee more than $200 million in athletic projects, including stadium renovations and expansions, and helped to build a room in Saban’s house dedicated to recruiting.

At Clemson, Turnipseed was tasked with building the Tigers’ recruiting department, which has added positions with new-media-era titles — assistant director of football operations and creative media, director of new and creative media, coordinator of digital content — not to mention dozens of student helpers. These seemingly amorphous roles are all aimed at spreading Clemson’s message in forward-thinking ways, using social media to connect with recruits from a distance while also monitoring their behavior for potential red flags. – Fortuna, New York Times

Turnipseed is the second Clemson staffer to join Oklahoma. Venables announced that defensive analyst Ted Roof would be joining OU as the Sooners’ next defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Venables also announced Jeff Lebby as Oklahoma’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and that OU would retain Bill Bedenbaugh, Joe Jon Finley, Cale Gundy and DeMarco Murray on his coaching staff.

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

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Brent Venables announces first two assistant coaching hires in Jeff Lebby, Ted Roof

Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables announced the hirings of offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby and defensive coordinator Ted Roof.

Oklahoma head football coach Brent Venables announced his first two assistant coaching hires on Friday. Venables named Jeff Lebby as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and Ted Roof as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Lebby comes over to the Sooners from Ole Miss where he was the Rebels’ offensive coordinator and helped lead Ole Miss to its first 10-win regular season in program history.

Ole Miss currently owns the nation’s No. 4 total offense, averaging 506.7 yards per game. The Rebels are No. 9 in rushing offense with 224.2 rushing yards per game and No. 21 in passing offense with 282.4 passing yards per game.

Under Lebby’s direction, each of his past three offensive units have ranked in the top four nationally in total offense and in the top 20 in scoring offense.

“I’m grateful to Coach Venables and Joe Castiglione for the chance to come back to OU and serve as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. My five years here as a player and then student assistant under Coach (Bob) Stoops represent some of the best of my life. They provided me with a real love and respect for the game of football and laid the foundation for my understanding of what it means to be a successful coach. I will work daily to earn the faith Sooner Nation has put in me to represent this storied program,” Lebby said in a statement.

Venables said Oklahoma is getting one of the most talented offensive coordinators in the country.

“We’re thrilled to welcome to our staff maybe the hottest offensive coordinator in college football. The more thoroughly we scouted Jeff, the more we became convinced that he has the character and ability we need and want at OU. Jeff’s offenses and the players he’s coached are some of the most productive in the game. He’s going to bring a dynamic and diverse system that will take advantage of our playmakers. He’s one of the best when it comes to game planning and attacking defenses with his smart and aggressive style. His relentless and innovative approach will make us incredibly difficult to defend. We’re excited to have one of the fastest-rising coaches in the game leading our offense and quarterbacks,” Venables said.

Meanwhile, Roof joins Oklahoma after a 35-year coaching career. Roof served as a defensive analyst for Clemson this season.

The Georgia Tech alum has served as defensive coordinator at Massachusetts, Western Carolina, Georgia Tech, Duke, Minnesota, Auburn, UCF, Penn State, North Carolina State, Appalachian State and Vanderbilt.

In the 2019 season as Appalachian State’s defensive coordinator, Roof helped the Mountaineers to a 13-1 record and guided a unit that led the nation in defensive touchdowns.

As Auburn’s defensive coordinator, Roof led an Auburn defense in 2010 that held Oregon to 19 points—30 points below the Ducks’ season average—and a 14-0 campaign and the BCS national championship.

From 2008-20, Roof’s defenses held opponents to 110 rushing yards or less 57 times.

Roof was also Duke’s head coach from 2004 to 2007. During his playing career, Roof was a first-time All-ACC selection as a senior in 1985.

“There have been so many great coaches, players and tough-minded competitors who have made up all the championship teams that have been part of the incredible Oklahoma tradition. For me, it is an honor and a privilege to serve on an OU football staff under the strong leadership of Coach Venables. I have a tremendous amount of admiration and respect for him both as a man and a coach. He’s got a long track record of success, molding championship teams and maximizing student-athletes’ football abilities. But he gives them much more than that. He equips them with the tools and helps them develop the successful habits that will make them champions off the field for the rest of their lives. Brent gets that. He understands the privilege and responsibility that goes with it,” Roof said of joining Oklahoma.

Venables cited Roof’s experience, ties to the southeast and ability as a recruiter for reasons why the hire made sense for OU.

“Ted is one of the most experienced coordinators and one of the best teachers in all of college football, and he’s done it in some of the premier conferences in the sport – the SEC, Big Ten and ACC. He has a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience, most of which has been in the southeastern part of the country where he is very well connected. He’s been a head coach, is a fabulous recruiter and is one of the most revered players in Georgia Tech history from his time as a linebacker there. We’re fortunate to have a person of his stature lead our defense, and he’s going to make us stronger and tougher on that side of the ball,” Venables said.

Venables also announced that he is retaining Cale Gundy, Bill Bedenbaugh, DeMarco Murray and Joe Jon Finley on his Oklahoma coaching staff.

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

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Another Clemson staffer leaving with Venables

Another Clemson assistant coach will be following Brent Venables to Norman. Oklahoma announced Friday afternoon that Venables has named Ted Roof as his defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He’s the second staffer to leave for Oklahoma, …

Another Clemson assistant coach will be following Brent Venables to Norman.

Oklahoma announced Friday afternoon that Venables has named Ted Roof as his defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He’s the second staffer to leave for Oklahoma, joining Miguel Chavis, who will serve as the Sooners’ defensive ends coach.

Roof was in Clemson for just one season as a defensive analyst on Dabo Swinney’s coaching staff.

He was the defensive coordinator at App State in 2019 and was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at NC State in 2018. He served as the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech from 2013-’17 and was the DC at Penn State in 2012.

From 2004-’07, Roof was the head coach at Duke. He also served as the defensive coordinator there from 2001-’03 before getting the head coaching job.

Roof’s first stint at Georgia Tech came in 1998 when he began as the linebackers coach and then moved over to defensive coordinator from 1999-’01.

The 58-year old played linebacker at Georgia Tech from 1982-’85 and has spent all 35 years of his coaching career as a college football coach.

“Ted is one of the most experienced coordinators and one of the best teachers in all of college football, and he’s done it in some of the premier conferences in the sport – the SEC, Big Ten and ACC,” Venables said in a statement released by the university on Friday.

“He has a tremendous wealth of knowledge and experience, most of which has been in the southeastern part of the country where he is very well connected. He’s been a head coach, is a fabulous recruiter and is one of the most revered players in Georgia Tech history from his time as a linebacker there. We’re fortunate to have a person of his stature lead our defense, and he’s going to make us stronger and tougher on that side of the ball.”

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No. 1 linebacker impressed by Clemson’s linebackers, ‘amazing culture’

A No. 1-ranked linebacker prospect was at Bank of America Stadium last Saturday to see Clemson and Georgia battle it out in the marquee matchup. Jefferson (Ga.) High School’s Sammy Brown – the nation’s top linebacker in the 2024 class according to …

A No. 1-ranked linebacker prospect was at Bank of America Stadium last Saturday to see Clemson and Georgia battle it out in the marquee matchup.

Jefferson (Ga.) High School’s Sammy Brown – the nation’s top linebacker in the 2024 class according to 247Sports – attended the game as a guest of the Bulldogs, though he is also on the Tigers’ recruiting radar and liked what he saw from Brent Venables’ defense on the field as well.

“I thought the game was awesome,” Brown told The Clemson Insider. “I went as a guest of UGA, but I enjoyed watching both defenses and the way they executed their game plans. It’s pretty exciting when there are no offensive touchdowns scored!”

Specifically, when he watched Clemson on defense, Brown was impressed by starting linebackers James Skalski and Baylon Spector.

Skalski was named ACC Linebacker of the Week after tallying a game- and career-high 14 tackles, while Spector recorded his first career interception in the third quarter, picking off a third-down throw by quarterback J.T. Daniels.

Brown had the chance to be coached by Skalski and Spector when he worked out at the Dabo Swinney Camp in June.

“Both linebackers played an amazing game!” Brown said. “It was great to see them flying all over the field. Skalski had like (14) tackles, I think, and that’s crazy by itself, but against a high-powered offense like Georgia is insane. I was able to work with both Skalski and Spector at Clemson camp this summer, so it was cool to see them in a game setting!”

Brown plays on both sides of the ball at Jefferson High School. While a couple of schools are recruiting him as a running back, most view him more as a linebacker – including Clemson and defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Brent Venables.

According to Brown, Venables liked the movement and aggressiveness that Brown displayed at camp, and Brown’s father, Michael – who is the associate head coach at Jefferson High – has been staying in touch with Clemson defensive analyst Ted Roof.

“My dad texts with Ted Roof from time to time,” Sammy said. “He texted after the Central Gwinnett game… I think he played there in high school.”

A bunch of major programs have already offered Brown, including Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Brown knows that Clemson doesn’t extend offers to sophomores like himself, but where do things stand with him and the Tigers early in the recruiting process?

“I would say I have a pretty strong relationship with Clemson and their staff,” he said. “They all seem like great people.”

Asked what appeals most to him about Clemson, Brown gave a definitive answer.

“Definitely the culture they have,” he said. “They might not always be the biggest or strongest. But they have an amazing culture. Their coaches and players know how to get up and work and push through tough things. They play at a higher level than everyone else, and it shows.”

Brown said he definitely plans to see the Tigers play again in person in at least one game at Death Valley this season.

Brown transferred to Jefferson from Commerce (Ga.) High ahead of his sophomore season. As a freshman in 2020, he garnered first-team all-state honors after rushing for 1,368 yards on 133 carries (10.3 average), catching six passes for 181 yards and totaling 19 all-purpose touchdowns to go with 41 tackles and two sacks.

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