Brent Venables Keeps It Real: Oklahoma Head Coach Sets the Tone During Spring Football

As the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for the 2025 college football season, head coach Brent Venables is doing what he does best—setting the tone, demanding excellence, and keeping things real with his players during spring football.

With expectations soaring in Norman after a strong close to the 2024 campaign and a top-five recruiting class signed in the offseason, Venables isn’t sugarcoating anything. His approach has been direct, intense, and honest—a continuation of the culture shift he began implementing the moment he returned to OU in 2021.

The Message: Accountability, Discipline, and Physicality

From day one of spring practice, Venables emphasized accountability and effort. His opening message to the team was blunt but necessary: “Last year’s success doesn’t carry over. You have to earn it every day.”

Venables has made it clear that complacency won’t be tolerated. Whether it’s a returning All-Big 12 starter or a five-star freshman, everyone is expected to put in the work, compete with urgency, and be accountable in every rep.

“We’re building a team that’s tough-minded, disciplined, and relentless,” Venables told reporters after the first week of practice. “Spring is where it all starts. The standards are high, and we’re going to hold each other to them.”

Fierce Competition at Every Position

The Sooners return several key contributors but also welcome a wave of talented newcomers. That’s created fierce competition across the depth chart—just the way Venables likes it.

At quarterback, Jackson Arnold looks to cement his role as the unquestioned starter after an impressive freshman season, but he’s being pushed by true freshman Levi Porter, whose maturity and poise have turned heads early on.

The defensive line rotation has also become a focal point. Senior Jonah Laulu and rising sophomore Adepoju Adebawore headline a group that’s being tested daily by a new-look offensive line coached by veteran OL coach Bill Bedenbaugh.

“We’ve got guys battling every day,” Venables said. “That’s how you build a program with depth. You compete. You respond to adversity. That’s what this spring is about.”

A Different Energy

Players have echoed the sentiment that this spring has had a different energy. Practices are fast-paced, physical, and filled with coaching intensity. Venables isn’t just watching from the sideline—he’s in the trenches, correcting alignments, challenging players mentally, and demanding consistency.

Linebacker Jaren Kanak, one of the vocal leaders on defense, described the environment as “elite” and praised Venables for his honesty.

“Coach V doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He tells us the truth, whether we want to hear it or not,” Kanak said. “That’s why we respect him. He makes us better.”

That energy has trickled down through the coaching staff as well. Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell and defensive coordinator Ted Roof have been aggressive in installing new wrinkles and emphasizing situational football.

Emphasis on Fundamentals and Situational Awareness

While there’s no shortage of talent on the roster, Venables has focused spring drills on mastering fundamentals. Missed tackles, mental errors, and communication breakdowns were all focal points of criticism from last season, and they’ve been addressed early and often.

“Execution is everything,” Venables said. “We’re going to be great in the fundamentals—block destruction, tackling, pursuit angles, eye discipline. That’s what separates the good from the great.”

Special teams have also received extra attention. Assistant coach Jay Nunez has worked with the return units to emphasize ball security and field position—two areas that cost the Sooners in close games last fall.

Culture Matters

Beyond the Xs and Os, Venables continues to preach culture. Trust, leadership, and accountability are at the core of everything being built.

Before the first padded practice, Venables gathered the team for a 20-minute talk on toughness—not just physical, but emotional and mental toughness. He challenged players to hold each other accountable in the locker room, weight room, and classroom.

“Toughness is how you respond when things get hard,” he said. “You don’t rise to the occasion—you fall to your level of training.”

Players like wide receiver Jaquaize Pettaway and safety Robert Spears-Jennings have stepped up as emerging leaders, embracing the daily grind and pushing teammates to match their intensity.

Fans Take Notice

The energy around the program hasn’t gone unnoticed by the fanbase either. Attendance at open practices has been high, and buzz continues to build for the annual spring game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

The Sooners are working to ensure the momentum of last year doesn’t fizzle out. With a move to the SEC looming in 2025, Venables knows the pressure will only intensify—and he’s preparing his team accordingly.

“We’re not waiting until August to start playing SEC football,” Venables said. “We’re building those habits now.”

Early Standouts

While spring football isn’t about naming starters or making final evaluations, a few players have made early impressions. Defensive end R Mason Thomas has looked explosive off the edge, while tight end Kade McIntyre continues to prove himself as a reliable target in the passing game.

Freshman running back Xavier Robinson has flashed vision and burst, while JUCO transfer cornerback Elijah Snowden has made a case for early playing time with his physical play and ball skills.

“These guys are earning their stripes,” Venables noted. “Nothing is handed out. Every day is an evaluation.”

A Look Ahead

With just a few weeks left of spring practice before the spring game, Venables and his staff will continue to crank up the intensity. The focus remains on competition, detail, and laying the foundation for what could be a special season.

The Sooners know they’ll be judged not just by their talent, but by their toughness, preparation, and ability to win the line of scrimmage. Venables is demanding all of it now.

“Everything we want is in front of us,” he told the team after a recent scrimmage. “But nobody’s going to give it to us. We’ve got to take it—and it starts right here in spring.”

Final Thoughts

Brent Venables has never been one to sugarcoat the truth. As Oklahoma’s head coach, he’s brought a level of authenticity and intensity that’s transforming the program from the inside out. Spring football has become more than just preparation—it’s a proving ground.

Whether it’s future stars emerging, leadership rising, or competition ramping up, the Sooners are embracing Venables’ challenge. The bar is high, the message is clear, and the work is just getting started.

If the spring is any indication, Oklahoma football under Brent Venables is built for the long haul—and built to compete with the best of the best.