Brent Venables sends a message to Oklahoma targets in transfer portal

Brent Venables believes his Oklahoma Sooners represent a tremendous opportunity for many of the athletes in the NCAA Transfer Portal.

While Venables will be the first to admit Oklahoma’s first season in the SEC could’ve gone a little better, even though they finished strong with some solid wins, he believes the future is brighter than ever for the Sooners. They’re looking to turn the page, and that’s part of what the head coach’s message to potential targets was.

“We want them to be healthy. Stay healthy. That’ll always help. This is a wonderful opportunity,” Venables said, regarding his message to transfer portal targets. “If, if we get a little better on offense, take care of the football, make layups that are there. Become a more explosive offense. You know, we’ve established our defense. We established ourselves in the kicking game, as being as good as anybody in the SEC, which will put you in a great position nationally, as well. We get that back to what it was a year ago, on offense, and the year before that, as a top five, top 10 offense in the country. If we get good, consistent quarterback play — and again, we’re, you know, respectful of that football, win the margin. Recruit players to that.

“You’ve got to hope that, you know, you have a healthy football team. You see people that lose a guy here and there, and you know, all hell breaks loose. Handling the injuries is not an easy thing. But that being said, I just think it’s a great opportunity. I think it goes without saying. Whether you’re offensive lineman, you’re a tight end, you’re a receiver, you’re a quarterback — to be able to, you know, align on the other side of the ball with what you’re going to see every day, you know, on defense, and how we’ve recruited and developed there.

“Again, on the platform that Oklahoma has — this has been as good of a place offensively over a decade after decade after decade. I look at this year as an aberration. I’ve got a lot of guys that we’ve been talking to that look at it that way, as well.”

Evidently, Venables message is hitting home with a number of transfers. Their biggest fish thus far has been quarterback John Mateer, who figures to lead the Sooners in 2025. His experience and skillset should translate well in Norman, and help Oklahoma’s offense figure it out.

Time will tell, but it seems like better times are ahead for Brent Venables and the Sooners. They’ve hit the transfer portal hard and with immense efficiency, and it could pay off in a big way come next season.