Game week has finally arrived in Oklahoma, and Brent Venables couldn’t hide his excitement when he met with reporters on Tuesday. After seven months of preparation, roster shuffling, and intense competition, the Sooners will kick off their 2025 season Saturday night against Illinois State.
“Everything that we’ve been doing the last seven months builds up to this moment,” Venables said in his opening statement. “There’s a great buzz and excitement on the practice field, in the meeting room, and certainly here in Norman.”
That buzz is mixed with expectation. Entering his fourth season as head coach, Venables has assembled a roster that looks deeper and more battle-tested than in years past. But the theme running through his remarks was clear: confidence built through competition, development, and a program culture that he believes is finally taking root.
Jacobe Johnson’s Emergence at Corner
One of the biggest storylines of the offseason has been the Sooners’ cornerback room, where injuries and inexperience have created both concern and opportunity. With Eli Bowen sidelined and others battling for consistency, sophomore Jacobe Johnson has taken a leap forward.
“He’s as good of an athlete as we have on the roster,” Venables said. “He needed to hone his skills and understanding of how to play cornerback, and it’s been a process. He’s just matured through a lot of hard work and development.”
Johnson, a converted high school receiver, contributed primarily on special teams last year. Now, his growth in confidence and fundamentals has placed him squarely in the mix for starting reps. Venables praised cornerbacks coach Jay Valai for helping accelerate that development, but he emphasized that the transformation has been Johnson’s own doing.
Confidence in John Mateer
Perhaps the most important figure in Oklahoma’s season is quarterback John Mateer, the Washington State transfer who was named the Sooners’ starter. Unlike some of the younger players still proving themselves, Venables expressed full confidence in what Mateer will bring to the offense.
“I’m very confident in who he is,” Venables said. “I studied a lot of tape of Washington State, two years’ worth. He’s a guy you can count on, who’s not going to flinch. He cares about his teammates, his coaches, his opportunity. When he’s faced adversity, he’s always responded.”
That steady presence is exactly what Venables and new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle are counting on as OU transitions into its second season in the SEC. For Venables, Mateer embodies the toughness and leadership the Sooners need to compete at the highest level.
Growth on the Offensive Line
If the quarterback sets the tone, the offensive line sets the foundation. Venables singled out right guard Febechi Nwaiwu, who returns after starting all 13 games last season, as an example of the progress OU has made in the trenches.
“He’s changed his body and he’s a much more confident player,” Venables said when asked about Nwaiwu. “He’s stepped into a leadership role. He’s more physical, more consistent, and he shows up every day ready to make the team better.”
Even with multiple “ORs” still listed on the depth chart at other spots, Venables is encouraged by the competition. That competition, he argues, is part of the identity he’s been working to instill since arriving in Norman.
Courtland Guillory: A Freshman with Bite
Among the newcomers, true freshman corner Courtland Guillory has earned particular praise. With Bowen sidelined, Guillory has stepped into a major role quicker than expected, and Venables lit up when asked about him.
“He’s just ultra-aggressive, very confident but humble, and super coachable,” Venables said. “He loves a challenge. He’s lost plenty of battles, but he responds. He doesn’t go in the tank, doesn’t neglect the coaching. That’s rare for a young player.”
Venables even described a recent moment when Guillory’s passion in practice fired up the entire team. For a program relying heavily on its younger talent, Guillory’s mentality may prove as valuable as his athletic gifts.
Development and Retention as a Foundation
Much of Venables’ press conference circled back to a theme he’s emphasized since taking the job: building through development, not just transfers. While the portal remains a factor, Venables believes Oklahoma’s defensive roster — filled with homegrown talent that has steadily progressed — is proof of concept.
“I think it’s foundational,” he said. “You look up and down the depth chart, a lot of those guys stuck with Oklahoma, developed, and now they’re leaders. Recruiting young men that understand this is a developmental game is an important piece.”
Venables rattled off examples: Gentry Williams and Robert Spears-Jennings overcoming shoulder surgeries, Gracen Halton transforming from a tight end recruit into a 300-pound defensive lineman, and linebackers Kip Lewis and Kobie McKinzie growing from overwhelmed freshmen into trusted leaders.
For Venables, those stories represent the model he’s trying to build: patience, development, and long-term investment paying off.
The Personal Responsibility of Leading Oklahoma
As he enters year four, Venables was reflective about the journey so far. He admitted the lack of on-field success at times has been disappointing but said his commitment to building the program “the right way” hasn’t wavered.
“I’ve never had one foot in one place and another in another,” he said. “I love what I do. I know how much this program means to Oklahoma fans, and I’m incredibly disappointed we haven’t been able to give more reason for celebrating. But I’m motivated by that.”
Venables also pointed to the challenges he faced upon arrival: a roster in flux, poor academics, and a team GPA of 2.2. Four years later, he believes the culture shift is undeniable, even if the journey is still incomplete.
“Our best days are in front of us,” Venables said firmly.
Building the Trenches
One area that best illustrates that culture shift is the defensive line. When Venables arrived, he noted OU had just “one or two” players weighing 300 pounds. Now, the Sooners have multiple rotation-ready options and the SEC-caliber size they lacked.
“There wasn’t an area we didn’t need to attack,” Venables said. “Culture, mindset, expectations, standards, ambition, connection. We had to start completely over. But now you can see the picture of what we’re building.”
Venables credited his defensive staff for continuity and chemistry, emphasizing that their passion and stability have been essential in developing the front.
Looking Ahead
The opener against Illinois State won’t reveal everything, but Venables knows the real test comes in Week 2, when Michigan visits Norman. With questions still at corner, linebacker, and along the offensive line, the Sooners will need to prove their depth chart uncertainty is more about strength in numbers than weakness in decision-making.
But Venables struck an optimistic tone as he closed his media session.
“We have an amazing staff, an amazing locker room, and I’m at one of the best programs in college football,” he said. “My responsibility is to put a product on the field that everybody who loves Oklahoma is proud of. And I believe we’re building toward that.”
Matt Hofeld is a college football analyst and contributor covering the SEC. Follow him for more Oklahoma and conference-wide analysis throughout the 2025 season.
Follow us on Instagram