Brent Venables provides update on status, relationship with Caleb Williams

Brent Venables is not wasting any time diving into learning his Oklahoma roster. The recently hired Sooners head coach addressed the status of freshman sensation Caleb Williams in his Monday press conference.

The quarterback stepped in for Spencer Rattler at the Red River Shootout and never lost the starting job. And with Rattler’s recent move to enter the portal, holding on to Williams is of utmost importance.

Venables confirmed in his press conference that he talked to Williams on the phone, along with his father, on Sunday.

“There’s nobody that’s more important to recruit than your players everyday,” Venables said.

Oklahoma has lost a number of quarterbacks to the portal recently, including Rattler. Current SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai is a former Sooners quarterback, too.

In 10 games this season, Williams threw for over 1,600 yards and 18 touchdown passes. A former On3 five-star consensus, his rushing abilities were on full display this year as he racked up 408 yards on 72 carries for six scores.

The new Oklahoma head coach is tasked with guiding the program into the SEC, and keeping one of the top quarterback talents in Norman is key.

Bob Stoops weighs in on Brent Venables as new Oklahoma head coach

Oklahoma zeroed in on its next head football coach just a week after Lincoln Riley accepted the USC job. Legendary Sooners coach Bob Stoops, is excited about the recent hire of Brent Venables.

Much like Riley, Venables comes from the Stoops’s coaching tree. While Riley served as Stoops’ offensive coordinator before his promotion to head coach, Venables served as Stoops’ defensive coordinator.

Hired in 1999, Venables was Oklahoma’s co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, then he was promoted in 2004 to assistant head coach, too. He coached the defense in 2000, when the Sooners were consensus national champions. Oklahoma the Big 12 in total defense and scoring defense on the season.

“Brent was a major part of our 2000 national championship team here at OU, won two national titles at Clemson and, all told, has coached in eight national championship games,” Stoops said of Venables in a press release.“He knows the formula to win national championships and has the toughness, the attitude and the fight that I think will elevate our program in a lot of positive ways.

“I’ve always loved his energy, excitement and passion for the game — it clearly spills over to his players. He has the absolute right experience to come in at this time and really boost our program.”