Venables explains why he doesn’t just seek talent on recruiting trail

The Oklahoma Sooners boast a blue-blood college football program. Even in the wacky world of college football alignment — where tradition no longer seems to mean anything — the Oklahoma brand has stayed strong.

We’ll see if the Sooners can keep that up now that they’re heading to the SEC, but there’s little doubting the fact that Oklahoma is one of college football’s most consistent contenders on a year-to-year basis.

That was true in the Barry Switzer and Bob Stoops eras, and now third-year head coach Brent Venables is trying to keep it true under his watch.

Much of that is recruiting talented players, and the Sooners have done a great job of that. Venables’ 2024 class was ranked No. 8 in the nation, while his 2025 class is ranked No. 4.

That’s a big deal, and recruiting stars is what will keep Oklahoma relevant in the SEC. Venables recently relayed that star power isn’t all he’s looking for in recruits, though. In fact, he seems to appreciate the grittiness that comes with underrated and underappreciated players.

“I still believe in finding guys that maybe not a lot of other people think a lot about, but looking for players in building a roster that there’s a certain percentage or a certain group of guys that have intrinsic values that maybe aren’t well thought-of in recruiting circles, but they’ve got the right stuff,” Venables explained, per On3. “And I think that’s more important now than ever as you’re looking for continuity in your rosters and guys that are motivated by the right things.”

Venables is referencing recruits who are now only in it for the NIL money, which is certainly an issue nowadays. However, as someone who worked his way up from being a community college linebacker to playing at Kansas State under Bill Snyder, Venables seems to appreciate the hustle a bit more than others.

“Those are things that you really probably foundationally learn from, and again I was a guy that had to earn my way, so I have a great appreciation for that as a coach. I have a great appreciation for guys that value those things,” Venables said.

There is, of course, a fine line that has to be walked in big-time college football. You can recruit a team full of five-stars, but if they don’t have heart, you won’t accomplish much. Then again, you can recruit a team full of “dawgs,” but if they don’t have any talent they won’t get that far.

Ultimately, that seems like the balance Venables is trying to strike at Oklahoma.