Brent Venables on why he’s calling plays in 2025: ‘Because I’m good at it’
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Brent Venables met with reporters in Norman on Wednesday afternoon to help preview spring practice.
Venables was asked about the decision to become Oklahoma’s primary defensive play-caller in 2025. That move was made following Zac Alley’s departure to West Virginia earlier this offseason. Oklahoma reportedly pursued Jim Knowles before he landed at Penn State, but eventually settled on Venables as the defensive play-caller this fall.
Venables, who has coached in 8 National Championship Games as a DC, was renowned as one of the nation’s best in that role before becoming OU’s head coach. He told reporters on Wednesday that he’s leaning into his strengths by making this move.
“Why am I gonna call the defense? Because I’m good at it,” Venables said. “I’m confident in it. We’ve got a great staff. If I’m gonna be successful, if the players are gonna be successful, if the product is gonna be what we want it to be, it’s going to be because of all of us. Somebody has got to lead it.”
Venables also pointed out that he’s previously called plays as Oklahoma’s head coach back in 2023 so he has an idea of what to expect as far as managing responsibilities of both the head coach and the defensive play-caller.
“Many people do that at a really high level, where they call an offense or call a defense and have a lot of success,” Venables said. “No guarantees with anything, but it’s a comfort zone for me. Last year when we went 6-7, I didn’t call the defense. So that didn’t work very well.”
This is a pivotal year for Brent Venables and Oklahoma coming off of a 6-7 campaign.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
