Oklahoma’s tight end room looks nothing like it did a year ago, and Brent Venables says Jason Witten is a big reason why.
Speaking at SEC Media Days, Venables said the Sooners “completely transformed” that position group heading into the 2026 season. The personnel changes mattered, but the first-year tight ends coach has been just as central to the overhaul.
Witten arrived in Norman with one of the most decorated NFL résumés any college assistant can bring. Venables made it clear, though, that the former star is already earning respect for far more than his playing career.
“The thing that stands out to me is his passion and his humility,” said Venables. “It resonates.
He's not only this Hall of Fame type player, and not every Hall of Famer is this amazing coach and mentor, as we know. But, man, he's got it in every way.”
That combination, in Venables’ view, has made Witten an immediate fit on the staff. The Oklahoma coach pointed to his communication skills, his feel for the game and the way he pushes players without losing them.
“He's got instincts for the game. He's an incredible communicator. He knows how to inspire and challenge his guys.”
Venables also kept coming back to Witten’s teaching style, saying the coach has a knack for getting ahead of the player’s questions.
“He knows what the players should ask before the player asks it,” said Venables.
“He has a rhythm to how he coaches and teaches, so that he can have the answer ready for the player and anticipate for the player.”
For Venables, that kind of anticipation is what separates good coaches from the best ones.
“I think the best coach is if they do something well, they anticipate what's around the corner.”
He used examples like blitzes, coverages and defensive fronts to explain the point, saying Witten consistently stays ahead of what his players are going to face.
“Jason has tremendous instincts, just from a coaching standpoint, from an anticipation standpoint.”
The Sooners also remade the room with new bodies. Oklahoma added Florida transfer Hayden Hansen, Colorado State transfer Rocky Beers and Tennessee transfer Jack Van Dorselaer this offseason. Venables said the growth in that group has been obvious.
“That room has probably grown as fast as any room has grown since I've been coaching in that amount of time.”
He also said that development should help Oklahoma on the ground.
Witten’s influence wasn’t just a Venables talking point. Quarterback John Mateer also praised the coach, saying he has formed a strong relationship with him and values the insight he brings every day.
“You just hang around guys like that, there's gold, and they're just giving you gold all the time,” said Mateer. “He wants to share his wisdom.”
Mateer said that impact is already showing up in the offense.
“We've seen that in the offense, and it's been great.”
He closed with another strong endorsement.
“He's a great dude, a great coach… I can't say enough good things about him.”
For Oklahoma, the tight end room has been reshaped. And based on the way Venables and Mateer talked in Atlanta, Witten has quickly become one of the most trusted voices in the building.
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