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The Oklahoma Sooners are in the midst of an offseason of change; one that still isn't over quite yet. But after a 6-7 debut season in the SEC, where they went just 2-6 in league play, those changes aren't a bad thing.
Around fourth-year head coach Brent Venables, there are a lot of new faces in Norman. It starts near the top, where general manager Curtis Lofton and assistant general manager Chuck Lillie have been replaced by new GM Jim Nagy and new Assistant GM Taylor Redd.
On the coaching staff, Ben Arbuckle was hired as the new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. He'll call the plays for an offense that completely bottomed out last year under Seth Littrell. OU also makes a change at defensive coordinator. Zac Alley moved on, prompting Venables to assume full control of the defense. He brought in Nate Dreiling and Wes Goodwin to replace Alley as OU's linebackers coaches. But it'll be Venables calling the shots in 2025. Former offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson also returns to the staff for the first time since 2010, this time as an offensive analyst, where he's been working with the offensive line that needs a bounce-back season.
On the roster, the Sooners have made plenty of changes, none more notable than their new starting quarterback, John Mateer. He came over from Washington State with Arbuckle and was a major transfer portal win for Oklahoma. Then, in the spring transfer portal window, OU added Jaydn Ott from Cal, an upgrade at the running back position who could help Arbuckle and Mateer jumpstart the offense.
All of these changes, and more, have Sooner Nation thinking that Year 2 in the SEC will look a bit different. And Matt Hayes, who covers college football for USA TODAY Sports, thinks that Oklahoma may change for the better this season. However, he also illustrates how high the mountain is for OU.
Hayes also emphasized how big 2025 is for Venables, which is the primary talking point when it comes to Oklahoma Football this year, and how he believes the head coach starting making changes mid-season last year. Unfortunately, 2024 burned up all the coaching goodwill that a 10-3 season in 2023 had earned the head coach.
Venables hasn't shied away from admitting his mistakes, especially when it comes to the failings of the offense in 2024. And he's made plenty of changes, some voluntary, some required, to make sure this season doesn't go like the last one did. He knows he's on his last chance, and he deserves credit for making the moves he has.
The offseason isn't over, and OU still has the opportunity to add more players to the roster in the spring portal. But after that, the Sooners will be mostly set personnel-wise for 2025. Then, spring will give way to summer, and summer to fall, the season that will reveal if all of Oklahoma's changes will pay off or not.
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.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma's big offseason could just work out for the best
Continue reading...
Around fourth-year head coach Brent Venables, there are a lot of new faces in Norman. It starts near the top, where general manager Curtis Lofton and assistant general manager Chuck Lillie have been replaced by new GM Jim Nagy and new Assistant GM Taylor Redd.
On the coaching staff, Ben Arbuckle was hired as the new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach. He'll call the plays for an offense that completely bottomed out last year under Seth Littrell. OU also makes a change at defensive coordinator. Zac Alley moved on, prompting Venables to assume full control of the defense. He brought in Nate Dreiling and Wes Goodwin to replace Alley as OU's linebackers coaches. But it'll be Venables calling the shots in 2025. Former offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson also returns to the staff for the first time since 2010, this time as an offensive analyst, where he's been working with the offensive line that needs a bounce-back season.
On the roster, the Sooners have made plenty of changes, none more notable than their new starting quarterback, John Mateer. He came over from Washington State with Arbuckle and was a major transfer portal win for Oklahoma. Then, in the spring transfer portal window, OU added Jaydn Ott from Cal, an upgrade at the running back position who could help Arbuckle and Mateer jumpstart the offense.
All of these changes, and more, have Sooner Nation thinking that Year 2 in the SEC will look a bit different. And Matt Hayes, who covers college football for USA TODAY Sports, thinks that Oklahoma may change for the better this season. However, he also illustrates how high the mountain is for OU.
Hayes also emphasized how big 2025 is for Venables, which is the primary talking point when it comes to Oklahoma Football this year, and how he believes the head coach starting making changes mid-season last year. Unfortunately, 2024 burned up all the coaching goodwill that a 10-3 season in 2023 had earned the head coach.
Venables hasn't shied away from admitting his mistakes, especially when it comes to the failings of the offense in 2024. And he's made plenty of changes, some voluntary, some required, to make sure this season doesn't go like the last one did. He knows he's on his last chance, and he deserves credit for making the moves he has.
The offseason isn't over, and OU still has the opportunity to add more players to the roster in the spring portal. But after that, the Sooners will be mostly set personnel-wise for 2025. Then, spring will give way to summer, and summer to fall, the season that will reveal if all of Oklahoma's changes will pay off or not.
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.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma's big offseason could just work out for the best
Continue reading...
