Oklahoma HC Brent Venables Meets the Press at Local Media Day
Watch as Sooners coach Brent Venables talks to local media ahead of 2026 fall camp.
Video Transcript
All right, good morning, afternoon.
Uh We're gonna open up straight to questions.
Good to see everyone.
Good.
What's, uh, what's gonna be the biggest difference you've seen in John, uh, heading into the second year?
Obviously, comfortability is a lot, uh, bigger with Henry.
this.
at Oklahoma, but maybe what's the biggest difference you've seen in maybe his mental side of the game?
Dirty, probably understanding the gravity of being the quarterback at the University of Oklahoma.
Um, there's that piece.
I think he's probably in a more peaceful, uh, place when it comes to that , just a more comfortable, um, uh, understanding, uh, all the different levels of it.
And then, you know, as we've been talking about for several weeks and really post-spring , just, uh, the maturity that he's taken to the offseason, um, looking at ways to improve.
Um, in all the different ways.
So that's mentally, um, understanding what they want to do, uh, purposely as a, as an offense in some of the, um, The responsibilities within the confines of the offense and whether it's reads or uh leading, things of that nature, and certainly uh understanding defensive structure.
As well, and, um, really trying to peel that onion back, uh, to the core.
And then again, just looking at all the, from a fundamental standpoint, built this body.
Uh, being a, you know, a great teammate, developing really good relationships, things of that nature.
You know, we have several new newcomers on offense.
And so, much different place than what he was a year ago now as a returning starter in the SEC and what to expect week in and week out.
Uh, and then, you know, building, you know, uh, the cohesion and the chemistry offensively speaking, as he's very natural, you know, from a relationship standpoint.
He didn't have to, Try to be a dude he is.
And so really proud of all the work that he's put into the out of season.
Everybody's followed his lead.
You know, again, as I, uh, we talked about recently, I've got incredible respect and appreciation for his athletic ability, but his best qualities, in my opinion, are, you know, the human being that he is, the leader that he is, uh, the guy that shows up in the depths of preparation and the level of consistency is a very hard thing, you know, for somebody to possess and.
Those are strong qualities that he, you know, possesses.
Text the Colt and we'll go to Mason.
Brent, looking at the, the defensive interior, obviously David and, and Jaden have played a lot of ball for you, but how do you feel about the development of Trent , Nigel, Bishop, uh, those guys, the way that that's come along, you know, over the offseason?
Yeah, I'm anxious to see where that goes.
Uh, the offseason is certainly, uh, one piece of it.
You know, we've, uh, been working since January, uh, to, Um, Develop the identity of this football team, find out what we have.
I think the fall camp is a real test of where we're at from a maturity standpoint, um, an improvement standpoint, a consistency standpoint, the things that it takes to win and be successful.
Uh, I think a lot still remains to be seen.
Uh, I'm anxious.
Uh, I wish I had further depth of, you know, uh, evidence to.
Brag on guys, um, but I think we nailed it when it comes to strength gains and the level of consistency during the summer, the improvement, the confidence that guys have gained.
Uh, they've done a lot of football and, uh, the fundamentals and.
You know, the, how we do what we do.
I think that's been able to see some of those things, but I want to see it now and I want to see it during the course of the season.
Again, if you go back two years ago, a guy like uh Dom Williams that had just gotten here as a, as a transfer, he had a solid year in, uh, 24 and made a decision that he was going to come back and approach everything with a different mentality.
And man, he was fantastic and it was two different guys.
Just two different, completely different guys, uh, when it comes to Um, challenging himself, holding himself accountable, uh, that's #1.
And then number 2, his willingness to, um, You know, set the standard each and every day, you know, be the template for it and be a tone setter, um, you know, set the thermostat where it needed to be and elevate, and he really did.
I think a lot of our success was a lot of guys , you know, coming together, uh, defensively last year, uh, but none bigger than Dom Williams, and it was, it was so remarkable.
Again, all my years, it just, it doesn't happen as much and so I'm, I'm going out of my way.
That's what it needs to look like.
Uh, and even, I, and I don't take it for granted, David and, uh, Jaden have, again, they've, you know, Jaden has, uh, had a really outstanding freshman year, and, uh, was banged up and fought through, really proud of his toughness that he played with last year, but, uh, was limited.
Now, David has yet to start a college football game, and I know everybody's quick to , you know, and it's not David's fault.
David's put his head down.
He's been working, uh, but a lot of people are quick to, you know.
Announce him as this or that and this is a game of doing and this is a game of longevity.
This is a game of uh consistency you know when we're talking about to be a good player, uh, it takes those things, not, not great, good, that's a foundational thing.
So that's the challenge for us in that group and again, every, every good defense is gonna be good because you're strong up the middle of the defense and will we be?
I, I don't know.
Um, do we have the potential to be?
Absolutely.
And, but I wanna go, I wanna see it.
And what I'm telling you is no different than anything I'm telling, uh, our guys.
I'm, you know.
Um, the, you know, they should wanna impress, uh, impress me, and, and I don't say that, uh, because I'm the head coach.
I don't say that at all, but I'm, I'm gonna be the guy that is gauging, you know, the litmus test and where are we, and my job is to push people, you know, to their limits and bring out the best in them each and every day and, uh, challenge them to improve and stay hungry and stay driven and help develop that mentality.
That's what fall camp is, is about and certainly.
You know, we've, uh talked about the 4th quarter, you know, You know, when we need to be at our best , you know, with the physicality and mentality, uh, the, the ability to execute at the highest level, you know, when you're, when you're tired, when you're gassed, you need to play your best ball in the 4th quarter, and that's just the mentality where we want to be, you know, as a football program and certainly, you know, we do on, on defense.
And, um, and so this is gonna be a great, great test for us, you know, and.
Opportunity for us here as we start fall camp.
You know, I really believe you develop a whole another level of toughness in your, your football team, uh, during fall camp, and I'm excited to see how our guys are ready to, to attack it.
Yeah, Bruce, um, at media days in Tampa, somebody asked Taylor Wine, who's the next Taylor Wine, and he said PJ was that guy.
What have you seen from PJ?
I know he didn't participate in the spring, but I think going into his 4th year, what have you seen from him and his growth and development?
Yeah, it's just a body of work, uh, to try to, uh, get his body back right, uh, so he can come and have the endurance to, uh, to play, you know, quality, his best football, and, uh, he's, has shown great signs.
Uh, in a, in a, uh, in his role last year, he did some really good things and now it's an opportunity for him to show that he's a, a guy that can be a pillar force, you know, on defense.
He's got the talent, the, the want to, the abilities.
He's put in a tremendous amount of work.
And I think that's what Taylor, uh, recognizes, not that he, uh, it's just a friend, you know, and a guy that he's pulling for.
I think he's seen, uh, PJ, the sacrifice and the work that he's put in, you know, typically that, you know, Uh, is a reason to believe that, you know, good things are in front of them and, uh, with the talent and the desire things of that nature.
