Brent Venables wants more after another top-10 class as OU enters…
Oklahoma gained 27 players during the early signing period, but Brent Venables isn’t finished bolstering the Sooners’ roster in preparation for their debut season in the “all-encompassing” SEC.
Oklahoma capped off a low-key signing day by obtaining signatures from all 27 of their 2024 commitments by 11:05 a.m. on the first day of the early signing period.
Despite the fact that Oklahoma has another top-10 recruiting class, according to the 247Sports Composite team rankings, Brent Venables isn’t about to rest. He understands that there is still work to be done in molding the Sooners’ 2024 roster, especially as the club prepares to shift to the competitive SEC this offseason.
“We’re always striving to improve,” Venables remarked on Wednesday. “We are absolutely competing. We’d want to see more. And more will be required.”
Oklahoma may have done adding high school talents to its roster, but the Sooners are still analyzing transfer options to help fill gaps at specific positions. Oklahoma has already received five commitments through the portal, and that number is projected to double by the end of the offseason.
Venables is excited about the direction the program is heading as it embarks on a new chapter in its storied history, despite knowing Oklahoma is about to face new challenges in its new league, both on the field and in recruiting, with the 27 signees and five transfer commits.
“It’s all-encompassing,” said Venables of the SEC. “It’s quite competitive. It’s never-ending. It is open all year. It’s difficult. There are smart coaches, and there are many programs with a lot of resources, such as Oklahoma. It’s a genuine competition. And one that isn’t going away anytime soon.”
The new 16-team SEC will be a powerhouse, much more so than the present 14-team conference arrangement. That much was clear from Oklahoma’s first-ever SEC schedule, which included games against six teams listed in the final College Football Playoff rankings. Alabama and Texas are in the four-team playoff, while Missouri and Ole Miss made the New Year’s Six bowl games this season.
Look no farther than the 247Sports Composite team recruiting rankings for this cycle to appreciate the issues Oklahoma will confront, not simply in terms of the intensity of its schedule. The new-look SEC has 13 of the top-25 recruiting classes in the country, including three of the top four in Georgia, Alabama, and Texas. The league’s other three teams are all ranked in the top 40.
Oklahoma’s class, which ranks in the top 10 nationally, is the fifth best in the restructured SEC, trailing only Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and Auburn, who concluded with the country’s No. 8 class. The Tigers are another team on the Sooners’ inaugural SEC schedule, with the Sooners’ first away game of the 2024 season taking place at Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.
In comparison, the Big 12 — which includes universities like Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Arizona State who will join the league next summer — saw just three teams finish better than the SEC’s lowest-ranked class. Texas Tech had the highest-ranked class, coming in at No. 22. That would have been the SEC’s 12th-best class.
Not only will Oklahoma compete on the field against some of the finest in the country, but it will also compete for top recruits and class rankings with many of them.
“We’re gonna win some and not win some (recruiting battles),” Venables told reporters. “However, you must win more games than you lose.” So, everyone in the program, from the president to the athletic director, and then everyone else — the recruiting staff, coaches, families, players, and everyone else. There is a genuine dedication to it. I don’t believe there’s anyone here who doesn’t see what’s in front of us right now. Recruiting has always been a competitive sport. But you’re going to a conference now that resources are abundant everywhere. That are at least as good as, if not better than, what you have. You must be resourceful.”
Of course, Oklahoma is well-positioned to compete in the SEC. Venables was quick to point out that the program is one of college football’s elite, with seven national championships, a history of Heisman Trophy winners, and a steady route to the NFL. And then there’s Venables, who has championship experience as an assistant at both OU and Clemson, where he frequently faced off against some of the SEC’s top programs in Alabama and LSU.
In his two seasons at Oklahoma, Venables has managed to stabilize the program, weathering a rough first season before rebounding with a 10-win season this fall. On the recruiting front, he has pushed to restock the cupboards and keep up with many of the nation’s top-tier institutions in terms of skill.
It’s something he hopes to maintain as Oklahoma goes to the SEC, with the 27 signees in the 2024 class laying a solid foundation for the program’s future. Oklahoma signed defensive lineman David Stone, a top-10 player nationally and the class’s centerpiece, and top-ranked running back Taylor Tatum on Wednesday. The Sooners signed five defensive lineman, including three composite four-stars and one five-star in Stone. Five offensive linemen, four wide receivers, a highly sought-after tight end, two running backs, one linebacker, two quarterbacks, and seven defensive backs were also added to the program.
While Venables wants to continue stressing relationships over the often more transactional aspect of the contemporary college football scene, he also recognizes the need for Oklahoma to be able to pivot and remain flexible when necessary.
“Certainly, you’ve got to be committed to our philosophy,” Venables went on to say. “…At the same time, things in college football have evolved tremendously in the previous three years. That should go without saying. And roster volatility is a very real thing. The lack of roster consistency is a very significant issue. As a result, we must be flexible, adaptable, and proactive along the road. Not only reactive, but also proactive. And I believe that is the goal and philosophy shared by our university and community.”
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