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Oklahoma is targeting Arkansas State defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling for a role on its coaching staff, according to a report.
That news was first shared by SoonerScoop on Friday morning. While OU has been looking for a defensive coordinator, SoonerScoop’s George Stoia reports Dreiling would likely be the program’s inside linebackers coach in 2025. That would clear the way for head coach Brent Venables to call defensive plays in 2025.
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Dreiling is 34 years old and has been a fast-riser through the coaching ranks. He’s been a defensive coordinator at New Mexico State (2022-23) and Utah State (2024) earlier in his career. He accepted the DC position at Arkansas State this offseason, but it appears he will be headed to Norman instead.
As a player, Dreiling was a star at Pitt State at the Division II level. He led the program to a national championship and was enough of a standout that he later got NFL looks from the Green Bay Packers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Oklahoma will presumably look at internal options for a nominal defensive coordinator, although it’s possible Dreiling receives the co-DC title as well. But as Stoia noted above, this move signals that Venables will call defensive plays for the Sooners in 2025.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
