Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s NFL Draft Success Will Only Propel Brent Venables on the Recruiting Trail

Published

3 years ago

April 28, 2022

Press Room

Oklahoma’s NFL Draft Success Will Only Propel Brent Venables on the Recruiting Trail

NORMAN — On Thursday evening, 32 lifelong desires will come true.

After months of anticipation and mock drafts, the 2022 NFL Draft is lastly right here.

Now a three-day spectacle, a whole bunch of one of the best school soccer gamers anxiously wait to listen to their names referred to as.

Oklahoma can have a big contingent of former gamers who’re prone to fly off the draft board by Saturday evening, as evidenced by the 11 Sooners who had been invited to the NFL Mix in March.

Whereas these prospects are prepared to begin the subsequent stage of their careers, the place each will get drafted may even have an effect on Brent Venables’ program.

The NFL Draft has lengthy been a recruiting device for school packages throughout the nation, as continued success within the draft proves yr after yr a program can take a recruit and assist information them into the skilled ranks.

“It’s essential that there’s a historical past of growth, that the gamers coming out of your program could be developed, that you could facilitate all of (their) desires,” Venables stated.

At the moment, Oklahoma is within the midst of a streak of proving this system can develop professional prospects.

The Sooners have had 4 or extra gamers chosen in 14 straight drafts — essentially the most of any program within the nation — and seem like on tempo to increase that streak once more this weekend.

Over that span, OU has additionally had 10 gamers chosen within the first spherical, which is one thing that resonates with highschool recruits.

“They’re very conscious of it,” Oklahoma defensive tackles coach Todd Bates stated. “Most of them that play this recreation, that’s their final dream or final objective.

“… They need to go the place they’ve received the chance to be acknowledged and get seen. At OU, they’ll do this.”

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This yr, line of defense seems to be Oklahoma’s finest hope at touchdown one other first-round decide.

However even when Winfrey or Nik Bonitto have to attend till Friday’s second or third rounds to listen to their names referred to as, the duo might be success tales for the teaching workers to promote on the recruiting path.

On prime of the success the previous Sooners are anticipated to have this weekend, Venables’ workers can be in a singular place to promote the success of Clemson, too.

With Venables and Bates coming over as former on-field coaches for the Tigers, alongside former Clemson assist staffers Ted Roof and Miguel Chavis, OU’s defensive workers will have the ability to reap the benefits of the success Venables’ protection had beneath Dabo Swinney.

“Whereas we had been at Clemson,” stated Venables, “I believe we’d have had essentially the most defensive linemen drafted and a bunch of men drafted during the last decade.

“I believe it simply provides you credibility that, OK, you get good gamers, however you continue to gotta coach ‘em. Lots of people get good gamers, however you gotta coach ‘em.”

In complete, Venables has coached 57 defensive gamers who’ve been chosen within the NFL Draft since 2000, together with 12 first-round picks.

Now, the Venables pedigree is as soon as once more mixed with that of Oklahoma’s, which ought to restore credibility again to the Sooners’ recruiting efforts within the years to return.

“For me as a coach, one in every of my largest fears is that my participant or gamers would underachieve,” Venables stated. “Nothing extra fulfilling from an Xs and Os, growth standpoint than seeing one in every of your gamers overdeliver.

“… No matter alternative you’ve, you overdeliver. You go above and past. For a coach, that’s a really pleasing place to be, is to have your gamers above and past their potential each week.”

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Oklahoma

Alabama's upset loss to Oklahoma completes wild day in college football as rankings could look a lot different

Published

3 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Alabama's upset loss to Oklahoma completes wild day in college football as rankings could look a lot different

Entering Saturday night, all No. 7 Alabama needed was a win against unranked Oklahoma to remain very safe in the College Football Playoff bracket.

Earlier in the day, No. 5 Indiana was blown out, No. 4 Penn State barely squeaked by Minnesota, and No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 14 BYU both lost.

But, the Crimson Tide could not get the job done, as Oklahoma dominated to a 24-3 victory.

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Defensive end R Mason Thomas of the Oklahoma Sooners gets his hands in the face of quarterback Jalen Milroe of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Nov. 23, 2024, in Norman, Oklahoma. (Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, who had been one of the nation’s best players, had his worst game of the season. He completed 11 of 26 passes for 164 yards with three interceptions and gained just seven yards on 15 carries for Alabama (8-3, 4-3). The Sooners held Alabama to 234 yards. He went just 2-for-7 for 62 yards before the half.

True freshman Xavier Robinson ran for career highs of 107 yards and two touchdowns as Oklahoma became bowl eligible and took coach Brent Venables off the hot seat.

The Sooners’ victory resulted in yet another edition of fans storming the field too early, but at least this one was practically over anyway, unlike the BYU-Arizona State game.

Oklahoma students and fans rush the field after they efeated Alabama, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Norman. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

APPALACHIAN STATE FANS PELT JAMES MADISON PLAYERS WITH SNOWBALLS BEFORE GAME

Ole Miss and Alabama, both in the bracket prediction last week, now have three losses on the season. This leaves the door wide open for 9-2 teams like Clemson and Iowa State, who had been ranked 17th and 22nd in the nation, respectively.

And now, Indiana’s college football playoff hopes, right after their undefeated season ending, may not look all that over. No. 10 Georgia and No. 11 Tennessee figure to move up a few spots with three teams ahead of them in the rankings all losing.

Although, it’s certainly not out of the question that Alabama could be on the outside looking in.

Oklahoma spirit team member celebrates after a touchdown against Alabama, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Norman. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)

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The next rankings will come out on Tuesday, and it should be very exciting to see what the committee has in store.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Oklahoma

‘So what? Now what?’: Alabama players react to loss to Oklahoma

Published

12 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

‘So what? Now what?’: Alabama players react to loss to Oklahoma

No. 7 Alabama football should have defeated unranked Oklahoma. But the Crimson Tide didn’t.

Oklahoma had only won one SEC game all season. It wasn’t even bowl eligible before Saturday.

Then, the Alabama offense failed to score a touchdown and sputtered for much of the night. The Crimson Tide defense couldn’t stop Oklahoma’s rushing attack when the game was still close.

Alabama turned the ball over three times, with three Jalen Milroe interceptions.

As a result, the Crimson Tide fell 24-3 to the Sooners on Saturday at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma.

“There is no excuse,” linebacker Jihaad Campbell said. “None. Everybody saw it. Whoever was watching the game. We lost, and we’ve got to take it on the chin and keep learning from that.”

Alabama (8-3, 4-3 SEC) gave up 325 yards, with 257 yards, on the ground to Oklahoma and two touchdowns. Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5) had the nation’s 90th ranked scoring offense entering the game.

“Our job was to out-execute those guys, and we fell short tonight,” Campbell said.

Meanwhile, the Alabama offense tallied only 234 yards, with 164 through the air and 70 on the ground, to score only a field goal.

Milroe, who gashed LSU on the ground two weeks ago, couldn’t get anything going with his legs with only seven yards on 15 carries.

“They had a great game plan for us,” offensive lineman Tyler Booker said. “We’ve just got to get a hat on a hat. We have to execute better.”

The Alabama players who took part in interviews postgame showed a clear and intentional interest in moving on quickly from the result and performance in Norman.

“So what? Now what?” Booker said. “Can’t do anything about what just happened. What we can do is make sure we prepare our tails off.”

Next up is a matchup with Auburn in the Iron Bowl at Bryant-Denny Stadium to close out the regular season. Alabama won’t make the SEC Championship Game, but it might not yet be eliminated from the playoff just yet. The Allstate playoff predictor on Saturday night gave the Crimson Tide a 31% chance to still make the postseason.

“Got a big game next week,” Booker said. “Got to put all of our focus and energy there. Can’t do anything about what just happened. We’ve got to put all of our focus and energy into next week.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

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Oklahoma

Live Updates: No. 7 Alabama Football at Oklahoma

Published

20 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Live Updates: No. 7 Alabama Football at Oklahoma

NORMAN, Okla.–– Alabama has one final road test to pass in the regular season if it wants to compete for an SEC title and make it back to the College Football Playoff.

The No. 7 Crimson Tide plays at Oklahoma on Saturday night in the first matchup as conference foes in the SEC. BamaCentral will have coverage all night from Norman. Follow along for updates.

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(latest updates at the top)

Who: Alabama (8-2, 4-2 SEC) vs. Oklahoma (5-5, 1-4)

When: Saturday, Nov. 23, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium

TV: ABC/ESPN+

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Tyler Watts).

Series: Oklahoma leads 3-2-1

Last meeting: Alabama defeated the Sooners in the Capital One Orange Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff 45-34. Tua Tagovailoa passed for 318 yards and four touchdowns while the Crimson Tide rushed for 200 yards across 42 carries between Josh Jacobs, Damien Harris and Najee Harris.

Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide dominated Mercer 52-7 at home behind three touchdowns from Jalen Milroe and two touchdowns from Ryan Williams. The Alabama defense forced three more turnovers as they’ve now forced 16 in the last five games, making life challenging on opposing offenses.

Last time out, Oklahoma: The Sooners were off this past week, but went to Missouri two weeks ago and lost 30-23 after losing a fumble for a touchdown in the game’s final minutes. Oklahoma’s played five conference games and only won at Auburn this season.

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