Brent Venables details how move to SEC has impacted Oklahoma recruiting

This year’s recruiting class is the first at Oklahoma that is committing to play in the SEC immediately. It’s a factor that, as head coach Brent Venables explained, has had an impact on recruiting.

While being in the SEC does help recruiting, Venables also explained that being in the SEC is going to require a deep and athletic team. While that’s always been the goal at Oklahoma, the demands in conference play are growing.

“This has always been a game of physicality and speed and length and instincts,” Brent Venables said. “We’ll continue to stay committed to that blueprint. This is a very deep, competitive league. The deepest league on the planet. So again, the demands, the rigors of the league are very real. We’ve been in that process, though, for the last couple of years, the last 26-plus months in building a roster that can compete in the league we were in and certainly moving forward, what the demand’s gonna be in the SEC.”

Oklahoma has the eighth-ranked recruiting class in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. That’s also the fifth-ranked class in the SEC for the recruiting cycle. However, there is still time for teams to add new recruits to these classes.

Brent Venables recaps process of Danny Stutsman’s return to Oklahoma

Recently, Brent Venables broke down the process that led to Danny Stutsman returning to Oklahoma.

“These are life-changing kinds of decisions, a lot goes into it. I’m here to help however I can. I will support the guys and whatever they decide to do, and I think Danny’s focused on all of the things that he’s already said. He’s coming back. Danny, as you all know, is, when it’s time to work — there’s nobody that is more committed, and he knows he’s got work to do. He’s trying to improve his opportunity. You get one opportunity to go to the NFL, the toughest league on the planet. You don’t want to go in kind of prepared, you wouldn’t show up to a Saturday game if you didn’t practice on Monday and Tuesday,” Venables said.

“He’s got to put all the work in and be as prepared as he can possibly be. I think that is, amongst other reasons, that he wants to finish college, he wants to have his degree in hand. He wants to be a senior, he wants to lead and help us transition into the SEC. I know that he has spoken and we’re excited to have him back. We’re committed to helping him every step of the way. We give him an opportunity to continue to get better — and that’s the thing that I love about Danny. He’s hungry, he’s never satisfied. He recognizes where he wants to make some improvement and he’ll be committed to do.”