The Oklahoma Sooners, under head coach Brent Venables, certainly faced a letdown during the 2024 season, finishing with a 6-7 record, including a 2-6 mark in SEC play, and suffering a loss to the Navy Midshipmen in the Armed Forces Bowl. However, this wasn’t solely due to the defense, which ranked 29th in points allowed per game (21.5) and 19th in total yards allowed per game (318.2) that year. The defense was led by co-defensive coordinator, linebackers coach, and play-caller Zac Alley, who will not return in 2025 after accepting a position as the sole defensive coordinator at West Virginia.
With Alley departing, Venables has announced that he will take over the responsibility of calling defensive plays for the upcoming season. “I’ve taken time to evaluate every aspect of our program in recent weeks,” he stated. “Since my arrival as head coach, we’ve deliberately put together the right defensive personnel and scheme to compete at the highest level, and we’ve cultivated a deep and talented roster prepared for such challenges. I hold high expectations for our program and will do everything I can to help our players reach our goals. Consequently, I will assume the defensive play-calling duties for the 2025 season.”
Venables is returning to his origins, as he initially gained recognition during his tenures as a defensive coordinator at Clemson and Oklahoma. His latest role as a DC was at Clemson in 2021, where he guided the team to a remarkable second place in points allowed per game (14.8) and eighth in total yards allowed per game (306.3). Fortunately for Venables, he has also recruited some impactful players via the transfer portal, including four-star EDGE Marvin Jones Jr. and three-star linebacker Kendal Daniels.
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