Jason Witten’s first turn as Oklahoma’s interim offensive coordinator gave Brent Venables plenty to like, and the head coach didn’t hesitate when asked whether Witten could handle the job full time.
“Absolutely,” Venables said.“ We spoke about that in the interview process.
That’s a goal of his. He got started a little later because he was a savage player.
One of the best ever. A Hall of Famer.
But he’s got all of the right stuff. All of the right qualities.”
Witten’s debut as a college play caller came after Ben Arbuckle’s firing, and the early returns were encouraging. Oklahoma put up 351 total yards in the game, with 144 of those coming on the ground. The offense looked more connected, played harder, and didn’t have the same disjointed feel it had shown before.
That’s a notable step for Witten, who arrived in Norman after a long NFL career and a later start to coaching than most. He began his coaching path as a head coach and play caller at the high school level before joining Oklahoma. He opened this season as the tight ends coach, and that room has already changed under his watch.
Rocky Beers and Hayden Hansen have both emerged as important parts of the Sooners’ offense, giving Witten’s position group a real boost. Now he’s added another responsibility, and his first game in that role gave Oklahoma something to build on.
Venables’ comments make it clear the interim tag doesn’t have to define Witten’s future. One game is only one game, but it was a strong start and a sign that the Sooners may have found a coach capable of handling more than just a temporary assignment.
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For the Sooners, the immediate concern is simple: an opponent that is supposed to be on the road may not be able to move on schedule, and the disruption could affect everything from arrival timing to the usual pregame routine. Even after flights begin moving again, delays are expected, leaving this matchup with an unusual amount of waiting attached to it before anyone gets to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Witten Just Got A Massive Vote Of Confidence At Oklahoma
Jason Wittens move into coaching has already drawn plenty of attention, and Jon Gruden just added another layer of credibility to it. Gruden, who coached Witten with the Raiders, spoke glowingly about the former tight ends work ethic, preparation and leadership, pointing back to the habits that made Witten such a dependable player in the first place.
For Oklahoma, that kind of endorsement matters because it reinforces the idea that Wittens coaching path is built on more than name recognition. Grudens praise also underscored how smoothly Witten has carried those traits into coaching roles at the high school and college levels, giving the Sooners a familiar football voice with real respect from one of his former NFL coaches. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Just Landed A Huge In-State Recruiting Win Again
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Compton-Nero was rated No. 42 overall in the 247Sports composite rankings and had narrowed his list to a heavyweight group that included Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Alabama and SMU. For Oklahoma, the commitment is more than just another addition to the board - it is the kind of in-state win that can shape a class and send an early message about how the Sooners are approaching the next wave of recruiting. [Read more 🡒]