Brent Venables raves about early impact made by Adepoju Adebawore, Peyton Bowen

Oklahoma EDGE Adepoju Adebawore and safety Peyton Bowen were two key cornerstones of Brent Venables‘ first full recruiting class as head coach of the Sooners. The two have been outstanding to start the year, playing in all four games and making key plays.

Venables said during his Tuesday press conference that their early success is hardly surprising.

“You’re gonna earn everything that you get,” Venables said. “Those guys embraced that. Because of that, it has helped them transition pretty well and have some success.”

Bowen is tied for fifth on the team with 14 tackles and leads the Sooners in passes defended with four. No other player has more than two. Bowen has also blocked a punt.

Adebawore has four tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one pass defended and one quarterback hit.

Venables talked about each player’s recruitment and what their character says about their great starts. He began his answer by talking about Adebawore and his recruitment.

“PJ, he might have for, maybe just like a blink of an eye, been a five-star,” Venables said. “Y’all had him way on down there for a long time. I don’t know if you ever talked to PJ’s family, they’re incredibly humble, amazing people. He has no helicopter parents. He went to a program that not a lot of people are necessarily talking about and they’re not just producing amazing talent every single year. He’s a blue-collar kid. He’s super humble, hard working. Nothing that has happened with PJ has surprised me. “

Both players were highly ranked recruits in the 2023 Sooners recruiting class, which ranked sixth in the 2023 On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Adebawore was ranked as the No. 10 overall recruit and No. 2 EDGE in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Bowen was the No. 15 overall recruit and No. 2 safety in the cycle.

Five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold was the only recruit ranked higher than Adebawore and Bowen in the 2023 Oklahoma recruiting class.

Venables recalled his first home visit to the Adebawore with defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis.

“PJ has a brother that got drafted, plays for the Indianapolis Colts now, played at Northwestern,” Venables said. “Had an excellent combine. Maybe 6-3, 280 and ran 4.5 and just freakish. We’re bragging up PJ and it was both (of his parents who said), ‘who’s PJ? He’s done nothing.’ Then they started bringing up their other son. Now, he’s got a degree, he’s a strong man. He’s got this great body of work. He’s getting ready to go to the NFL and PJ, he’s done nothing. Right then you’re like, oh, we’re gone love these parents. Nothing he’s done has surprised me again. He’s got great work ethic and he wants to earn everything.”

Bowen came from a different situation than Adebawore. Adebawore went to Kansas City (Mo.) North Kansas City, while Bowen went to a national powerhouse Denton (Texas) Guyer.

Bowen dominated the Texas state football scene at Denton Guyer, and Venables said his work ethic dates back to his time in Denton.

“Peyton’s the same thing,” Venables said. “Peyton has been for a very long time a different player in whatever environment. He’s had a lot of success. Got amazing parents. Just great, great people. Amy and Winston are just amazing people, raised him the right way. He’s a great friend, great teammate, great leader, super humble, will let you coach him hard. He’s had success as a result. He can get out of his own way, and you see that.”