The Oklahoma Sooners are expected to have a bounce-back season in 2023, Brent Venables’ second year in Norman. They’re regularly ranked in the top five of preseason power rankings and have the second-best odds to win the Big 12, according to Fan Duel.
If the Sooners are going be in contention for the Big 12 in November and December, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] will be a big part of the reason why. In particular, his and Ted Roof’s defense will have taken a significant step forward.
In the meantime, it’s wait-and-see with Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners. And that’s why he’s still ranked so low among Power Five coaches. Patrick Conn of College Sports Wire put Brent Venables at No. 57 in his ranking of every Power Five coach.
After Lincoln Riley left Norman, Oklahoma, for sunny Los Angeles the Sooners turned to a familiar name. Brent Venables served on the Oklahoma staff from 1999 to 2011. He left to run the defense at Clemson where he remained until 2021. Venables has seen success on the recruiting trails for OU, now he needs to see results on the field after finishing with a losing record last season. It was the first that Sooner had suffered since 1998. – Conn, College Sports Wire
Venables ranked 13th out of 14 Big 12 coaches heading into the 2023 season, behind only Neal Brown of West Virginia. That’s one spot behind where CBS Sports ranked the Sooners’ head coach in their Power Five rankings.
Coming off a 6-7 season, his first as a head coach, it’s understandable if national analysts are taking a cautious approach to ranking Venables. He’s a good coach though. While that hasn’t proven out on the field, he’s done a great job as a recruiter, communicator, and face of the program.
Venables has done the work to improve the talent on the roster. He brought in impact players like Rondell Bothroyd, Dasan McCullough, Reggie Pearson, Davon Sears, Jacob Lacey, and Trace Ford through the transfer portal to help improve the talent base on the defensive side of the ball. Each of those guys will play significant roles for the Sooners in 2023, even if they aren’t starters. They bring production, athleticism, experience, and in the case of Pearson, a guy that plays with an edge.
As the Sooners continue to turn over the Lincoln Riley era, particularly on defense, it’s only a matter of time before the Sooners turn the corner and return to national prominence.
[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=683578888]
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 John on Twitter @john9williams.