Oklahoma coach Brent Venables sounds off on commits visiting other schools

In the midst of one of Oklahoma‘s most disappointing seasons on the football field in recent memory, the Sooners are having to fend off other schools on the recruiting trail.

The most notable example of that is five-star Lewisville (Texas) offensive line commit Michael Fasusi, who is being pursued by both Texas and Texas A&M.

According to multiple reports, Fasusi will visit the Longhorns this weekend for their game against Kentucky instead of tripping to Norman where the Sooners are hosting Alabama. And InsideTexas.com’s Justin Wells reported that Fasusi will also be at the Texas-Texas A&M game in on November 30.

Venables, like his mentor Dabo Swinney at Clemson, does not condone current commits visiting other schools. He has been outspoken about that in the past, and again reiterated it when asked on Tuesday.

“If you’re visiting other schools, then to me you’re not committed,” he said when asked about those situations.

Venables on his “no visit” policy for commits: “You’re not committed if you’re visiting other places.” #Sooners

— George Stoia III (@GeorgeStoia) November 19, 2024

The Longhorns were one of Fasusi’s longtime top schools before he committed to the Sooners in August over them, Texas A&M and Missouri.

UT offensive line coach Kyle Flood has remained in touch with Fasusi since then, pushing for him to get to campus. And now they’ll have their chance less than two weeks before National Signing Day.

“The culture at Texas has always stood out,” he told On3’s Chad Simmons of the Longhorns in July. “The next thing for me with Texas is all of the resources there and around Austin. They have a lot of great opportunities.”

He had originally planned to be in Norman for the Sooners’ game against Alabama on Saturday, but will instead head to Austin where the Longhorns are hosting Kentucky.

Longhorns aren’t the only school in contact with Fasusi

The 6-foot-5, 299-pounder is the No. 10 overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the nation’s No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 4 recruit in Texas.

The Longhorns aren’t the only in-state school pushing for a flip through National Signing Day. Texas A&M has also remained in contention. But Fasusi told On3’s Griffin McVeigh that if another team is going to flip him, it will have to be about winning over more than just him.

“It would have to take not just flipping me but also flipping my family,” Fasusi said earlier this month. “Because I made this decision based on what I’m feeling and what they’re feeling. If I’m feeling good and my family is feeling good about it, it is what it is.”