Oklahoma Sooners' head coach Brent Venables had plenty to say about freshman quarterback Bowe Bentley, painting a picture of the ideal backup QB. As the Sooners dive into spring camp, Bentley is getting his first real chance to shine in front of the coaching staff. Venables, when asked about his quarterback lineup, which is headlined by returning starter John Mateer, didn't hold back his praise for the young talent.
"Bowe's been on a steady climb, improving not just over the first few days, but throughout the past several weeks," Venables shared. "He'd tell you himself that those initial days of OTAs felt overwhelming, but he's come a long way.
Today, he made an incredible throw right on the money. I'm not just hyping him up-he stepped up in the pocket and delivered beautifully.
He's got a great arm, natural instincts, and knows how to find his receivers. He's incredibly coachable, self-aware, and spends a lot of time in the building.
He's really making strides."
Bentley's arrival is certainly stirring excitement among Sooners fans. The buzz around the young quarterback is palpable, especially after glimpses of his first collegiate practice were shared online.
OU's offensive coordinator, Ben Arbuckle, recognized Bentley's potential early in the recruiting process, and it paid off when Bentley signed as a top-10 QB in the 2026 class. During his time at Celina High School, Bentley lost just one game over two seasons, leading his team to a Texas 4A D-I state championship in 2024. His senior year stats were impressive: a 76.5% completion rate, 2,911 passing yards, 32 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, along with 474 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.
While Mateer holds the QB1 position, Venables noted that redshirt sophomore Whitt Newbauer, who transferred from Mercer, is currently the backup. Though the plan seems to be for Bentley to redshirt in 2026, don't count him out just yet-he could very well compete for that QB2 spot if the opportunity arises.