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Oklahoma

Oklahoma senior Jaren Kanak officially switches positions from linebacker to tight end

IMG_0985by:Griffin McVeigh•03/06/25•

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NCAA Football: Oklahoma at Tulsa
Sep 16, 2023; Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; Tulsa’s Cardell Williams (7) runs from Oklahoma's Jaren Kanak (7) in the second quarter at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan J. Fish-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma is a program going through changes this offseason, mainly on the coaching staff. But one significant position change has been made official. With spring practice beginning on Thursday, Sooners linebacker Jaren Kanak is no longer on the defensive side.

Instead, Kanak will play offense in 2025 as a tight end. It’s a position of desperate need for Oklahoma and despite getting some outside pieces, Brent Venables is looking inward for a spark. Kanak makes the switch and hopes to provide a spark moving forward.

After being a starter back in 2023, Kanak was primarily used on special teams and as a backup last season. He did receive one start, coming in the loss to South Carolina. In total, Kanak recorded 17 tackles and recovered a fumble in the season opener against Temple.

The numbers from his year as a starter are much better, producing 62 tackles, six tackles for a loss, and two sacks while also forcing a fumble. All of this came against Big 12 competition, Oklahoma’s final season in the conference.

George Stoia of On3’s Sooner Scoop was at practice on Thursday, getting some footage of Kanak working with his fellow tight ends for the first time.

Tight end has been a position Oklahoma has struggled with the last couple of years. Bauer Sharp entered the NCAA transfer portal following the season finale against LSU and may as well have never left Baton Rouge. He will line up for the Tigers in 2025, hoping to make an impact under Brian Kelly.

Sharp leaves behind 42 receptions for 324 yards and two touchdowns. Both of those scores came in SEC play too, getting into the end zone vs. Ole Miss and Missouri.

Oklahoma then dipped into the portal itself with three tight end portal takes. However, just two of them played at an FBS level last year, coming via Louisiana Tech, Kennesaw State, and Pitt State. Some kind of reinforcement was needed.

Davion Mitchell appears to be the hopeful star of the group. A former big-time recruit, Mitchell is somebody Oklahoma has held in high regard since the recruiting process. Now entering his second season in Norman, his role is expected to greatly increase.

Kanak now has all of spring practice to transition from linebacker to tight end. Hopefully, by the fall, he will be completely settled in and ready to contribute to the revamped Oklahoma offense under Ben Arbuckle.