Kendel Dolby injury update: Brent Venables reveals latest on Oklahoma defender after being carted off
The Oklahoma Sooners lost defender Kendel Dolby to a scary injury during the game against the Tennessee Volunteers. At the time, he needed to be carted off the field and his leg was placed in an air cast.
Now, Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables has revealed the latest on Kendel Dolby in a new injury update. Unfortunately, Dolby suffered a dislocated ankle and the injury is going to require surgery.
“Lost some guys early in the game…Kendel Dolby will, again, I think it’s an ankle [dislocation],” Brent Venables said. “So, he’ll have surgery pretty quickly.”
Kendel Dolby was injured with just under nine minutes left in the second quarter. That’s when his right leg bent awkwardly under bodies and it was immediately apparent he had suffered an injury.
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A transfer into Oklahoma from the JUCO ranks, Kendel Dolby was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2021, according to the On3 Industry Ranking.
In 2023, he played in all 13 games for Oklahoma and earned an All-Big 12 honorable mention from the Cheetah position. That’s a position that sort of acts as a third safety or a hybrid defensive back role. It’s also a key role in Venables’ defenses, going back to his time at Clemson, being asked to stop the run and cover the slot in equal measure.
Kendel Dolby previously missed Oklahoma’s game this season against Tulane with a concussion.
In 16 career games with the Sooners, Kendel Dolby has 59 combined tackles with three sacks and six tackles for a loss. He also has two interceptions and five passes defended during his time on the Oklahoma defense. Finding a way to replace him won’t be easy.
Along with Kendel Dolby, wide receiver Nic Anderson also left with an undisclosed injury. Another wide receiver, Deion Burks, left with what Venables would describe as a soft tissue injury. They’re both considered day-to-day. Those injuries have now left the Sooners very thin at the wide receiver position.
“The other guys will be day-to-day,” Venables said. “We’ll figure out what those issues are…I don’t know the extent of [Deion’s injury]. It’s a soft tissue.”
The schedule doesn’t get any easier moving forward for the Oklahoma Sooners. Next week, Oklahoma plays its first SEC road game against Auburn before getting a bye week. After that, it’s Red River and the rest of the SEC slate. That’s a schedule that includes five teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25 Poll.