Why OU Football Coach Brent Venables Says Leading the Sooners’ Defense in 2025 Will Be All About Team ‘Collaboration’

As the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for a full season in the SEC, the message from head coach Brent Venables is crystal clear: defensive success won’t hinge on a single star or voice—it will be a collaborative effort from top to bottom.

Venables, one of college football’s most respected defensive minds, isn’t shying away from Oklahoma’s challenges in the rugged Southeastern Conference. But he’s also not promising dominance based on talent or pedigree alone. Instead, he’s emphasizing something more nuanced, something deeper—unity and shared accountability on defense.

“Great defenses are never built on the back of one player or one coach,” Venables told reporters at Big 12 Media Days. “They’re built on collaboration, communication, and a collective understanding of what we’re doing. That’s the standard here.”

This philosophy is more than just coach-speak—it’s at the core of how Venables is reshaping Oklahoma’s identity. With new personnel, veteran leadership, and an evolving scheme, OU’s defense is trending in a promising direction. But according to Venables, success this fall will come only if everyone on the defensive side is locked in and pulling together.

A Defensive Legacy Built on Shared Vision

Venables isn’t new to the concept of collaborative defense. As defensive coordinator at Clemson, he helped build some of the most dominant defenses in the modern college football era by fostering leadership across all three levels of the unit—defensive line, linebackers, and secondary.

Now at Oklahoma, he’s instilling those same principles.

“Everyone has a voice in this room,” Venables said. “We empower our players to take ownership—whether it’s making adjustments pre-snap, identifying alignments, or calling out tendencies. That level of engagement helps build a unit that functions as one.”

Rather than a top-down approach, Venables prefers what he calls “horizontal leadership”—an environment where accountability flows in all directions, and veterans mentor younger players with input from position coaches and analysts.

Linebacker Danny Stutsman, one of the team’s vocal leaders, echoed that sentiment.

“Coach V always talks about being a unit, not a bunch of individuals,” Stutsman said. “That’s how we’re approaching this year. We’re watching film together, communicating more on the field, and trusting that everyone’s doing their job.”

Adapting to the SEC: Physicality and Precision

Oklahoma’s move into the SEC comes with heightened expectations and physical demands. Venables understands that to compete with the likes of Georgia, Alabama, and LSU, his defense must be more than just talented—it must be disciplined, durable, and unified.

“Our margin for error shrinks in the SEC,” Venables said. “Missed assignments or a breakdown in communication won’t just lead to 10-yard gains. They’ll turn into touchdowns.”

To combat that, OU’s coaching staff has made subtle but significant changes:

• Streamlined play calls: The defensive terminology has been simplified to allow faster communication and fewer mental errors.

• Cross-training: Players are being trained at multiple positions to increase versatility and reduce drop-off due to injury.

• Leadership councils: Venables has created position-specific leadership groups to improve communication between coaches and players.

“The SEC is a line-of-scrimmage league,” Venables added. “But it’s also a mental league. If you’re not on the same page, you’ll get exposed. That’s why collaboration is non-negotiable.”

Defensive Depth: Built to Share the Load

One of the most encouraging signs for OU’s defense is its improving depth. While the Sooners relied heavily on a few standout players in 2023 and 2024, this year’s rotation is deeper and more balanced.

The defensive line features emerging talents like R Mason Thomas and Gracen Halton, both of whom can create disruption off the edge. In the interior, players like Da’Jon Terry and Jacob Lacey provide size and experience.

At linebacker, Stutsman returns as the anchor, but he’s now flanked by Jaren Kanak and Kobe McKenzie—young, athletic, and hungry.

In the secondary, transfers and returning starters have bolstered the unit’s flexibility. Players like Billy Bowman Jr., Gentry Williams, and transfer Key Lawrence are expected to play multiple roles depending on the opponent and formation.

“We’re not looking for one guy to carry us,” said co-defensive coordinator Ted Roof. “This isn’t a one-man show. Everybody’s got a part to play, and the system only works when everyone’s committed to their role.”

The Film Room: Where Collaboration Begins

Much of the collaboration Venables preaches begins off the field, in the film room.

“We have a saying—the eye in the sky doesn’t lie,” said Stutsman. “And Coach V makes sure we watch every snap, every angle, and we break it down as a group.”

Film study isn’t limited to just positional groups. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the entire defense gathers in one room, where they walk through key plays from practice and upcoming opponents. Players are expected to offer insights, challenge mistakes, and explain their assignments.

“It’s not just the coaches talking,” said safety Billy Bowman Jr. “They want to hear from us. What did we see? What should we have done differently? That ownership changes everything.”

Venables believes that by fostering transparency and dialogue, players become not only more prepared but more connected.

From Collaboration to Confidence

There’s a growing belief inside the Oklahoma locker room that this defense can take a leap forward—and that belief is rooted in trust.

“We’re not guessing out there anymore,” said cornerback Gentry Williams. “We’re reading, reacting, and trusting the guy next to us. That comes from communication and reps, but also from knowing that your voice matters in the system.”

OU finished the 2024 season with flashes of brilliance on defense, including key stops against Texas and a gritty performance in their bowl game. But consistency was still an issue, particularly against the run and on third downs.

Venables is confident that with better chemistry and collaborative decision-making, those lapses will become less frequent.

“When your guys play for each other—not just with each other—you’re going to see a different level of energy and discipline,” he said. “That’s what we’re building.”

Looking Ahead: A Defensive Identity Reborn

The Sooners won’t be short on challenges in 2025. Their SEC slate includes matchups with Tennessee, Alabama, and Auburn—not to mention the always-tense Red River Rivalry with Texas. Venables knows that expectations are sky-high, but he isn’t changing his formula.

“I’ve coached national championship defenses, and every single one of them had one thing in common—buy-in,” Venables said. “That’s what we’re getting here now. Guys who believe in the system, each other, and the mission.”

By redefining leadership and empowering players to take responsibility for the unit as a whole, Venables is doing more than just tweaking the playbook. He’s laying the groundwork for a cultural transformation—one where every tackle, every call, and every stop is the result of many voices working as one.

If the Sooners’ defense lives up to its potential in 2025, it won’t just be because of Brent Venables’ scheme or sideline fire. It will be because of the collaboration he has built into the DNA of the team.

And in the SEC, where every inch matters, that shared mindset may be Oklahoma’s greatest asset.