OU football coach Brent Venables says WR Deion Burks has 'a lot to weigh' with his future

OU football coach Brent Venables says WR Deion Burks has ‘a lot to weigh’ with his future

Posted by Admin December 14, 2024 Football

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NORMAN — OU football coach Brent Venables, as well as several players met with reporters Friday afternoon following one of the Sooners‘ bowl practices ahead of their matchup with Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl.

There was lot to discuss as transfer portal season is full-go and OU looks to replace a lot of departing talent, including six receivers who have already entered the portal.

One notable receiver who has yet to declare his future plans is Deion Burks, who caught 31 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns in five games in 2024 but was sidelined for most of the season with an injury.

“He’s got a lot to weigh and things like that,” Venables said of Burks. “But we’ve had several conversations and (returning and playing in the bowl game is) still certainly on the table.”

The Sooners have lost Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony, Jalil Farooq, J.J. Hester, Jaquaize Pettaway and Brenen Thompson to the portal. OU also lost out on Indiana transfer portal wide receiver target Donaven McCulley, who visited Norman on Monday, to Michigan on Friday.

However, Venables said Friday he expects Jayden Gibson, who missed the entire 2024 season with a knee injury, to return to the Sooners next season.

In late October, Venables indicated most of the injured receivers from this past season had indicated they wished to return in 2025.

“The wind,” Venables said of what changed from then to now. “Who knows what goes into a lot of those things, there are some guys maybe some of the conversation is, ‘Maybe you need a fresh start too.’ My job is to make sure that whoever’s here have an appreciation, a thankfulness and respect for their opportunity.

” … This is the most unstable time in college football history.”

What’s the plan at quarterback, tight end?

It’s no secret OU needs to add a quarterback in the portal following Jackson Arnold and Brendan Zurbrugg’s portal entries.

Michael Hawkins Jr. will start in the bowl game and will return next season, he said on Friday.

It appears the Sooners have also been waiting on Washington State quarterback John Mateer to enter the portal but he’s been practicing with the Cougars during bowl prep and hasn’t made a decision on his future yet. WSU coach Jake Dickert told local reporters Friday Mateer will take time this week to think about what’s next for him.

Venables knows OU can’t go into next season with two quarterbacks but didn’t get into specifics about portal targets.

“We’ve got some work to do to get that room where it needs to be so we can compete in the SEC,” Venables said. “So we’ve been diligently doing that.”

Another position of need for the Sooners is tight end. Bauer Sharp signed with LSU Friday and Jake Roberts graduates this weekend.

“(The plan) is to build the depth back to where we need it,” Venables said. “Tight ends are one of the most undervalued positions on the team, they’re critical on special teams and certainly in what we want to do and who we are.”

Robert Spears-Jennings “likely” back, R Mason Thomas undecided

A couple of key defensive players offered updates on their futures on Friday.

Defensive end R Mason Thomas confirmed he’ll play in the bowl game but is still in “deep thought” about his future and is unsure when he’ll make a decision. Thomas finished the 2024 season with 22 tackles and nine sacks and would be a significant returner for the Sooners in 2025.

As for safety Robert Spears-Jennings, he said he’s planning on speaking with his family but will “most likely” return to OU.

Brent Venables defers to Danny Stutsman on decision to play or opt-out of bowl game

Senior linebacker Danny Stutsman penned a note thanking Sooner fans for the past four seasons he spent in Norman.

He didn’t explicitly say whether or not he plans to opt-out of the bowl game.

“It’s not really for me to say whether or not he’s going to play,” Venables said. “But how about him being an All-American? Really cool. First Team All-SEC in his first year. I’m really proud and thankful for all the seniors but certainly the growth and maturity that has taken place with Danny.”

Stutsman finished his final collegiate season with a team-high 109 tackles and as a Butkus finalist. He was also named to the All-SEC first team and the Walter Camp and AFCA FBS coaches’ All-American first teams this week.

“To me, having a guy that has a legacy somewhere comes from making the place better than when you got there,” Venables said. “If he’s done something, he’s done that. And he’s left his mark. Certainly he’s done that to the whole locker room and to the University but man, he’s done that on defense. Where we were when we got here to where we are today, man, two different hemispheres.”

Michael Hawkins Jr. says he will return to OU football: ‘Where I want to be’

Report: Sooners hiring Washington State quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski as a senior offensive assistant/assistant quarterback coach

OU is set to hire Washington State quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski as a senior offensive assistant/assistant quarterback coach, 247Sports reported on Friday.

Alongside new Sooners offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, Kuceyeski helped the cougars rank 11th nationally in scoring this season. He worked closely with Arbuckle at WSU, helping develop John Mateer and Cam Ward.

Venables was asked Friday if keeping the Sooners’ current offensive staff was required for Arbuckle when he took the job.

“I asked everybody what are non-negotiables?” Venables said. “If you take job, what do you need at your disposal to be successful? I led every conversation that we’ve got a good staff, but nobody here is obligated to keep anybody.”

Venables said last week every offensive staff member will be retained. Kuceyski is just one of a few assistants Arbuckle is expected to bring to Norman.

“If he needed to bring a couple guys, he would have been able to do that,” Venables said. “And he has some off-the-field guys that were really important to him and so we’ve created an opportunity for him to bring them.”