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NORMAN — OU football coach Brent Venables held his pre-spring practice press conference Wednesday, ahead of Monday’s first day of spring practice for the Sooners.
The first topic of conversation was new defensive coordinator Zac Alley, who was hired in January to take over for Ted Roof.
“Got a guy with some fresh ideas and a new voice, a new face,” Venables said of Alley. “Guy that’s going to show up with his hair on fire, got a lot of energy. … He’s a great teammate — tough as all get out.”
Venables worked with Alley when Alley was a student/graduate assistant at Clemson from Venables’ arrival as Clemson’s defensive coordinator through 2018.
But Venables said Alley’s defense wouldn’t be exactly like the one Venables ran at Clemson, as Alley has grown in stops at Boise State, Louisiana-Monroe and Jacksonville State.
“There’s a lot of newness to what he’s going to bring, but certainly a lot of familiarity as well,” Venables said.
Here are other takeaways from Venables’ press conference:
More: OU football head coach Brent Venables’ wife Julie has ‘zero cancer’ after 2023 diagnosis
Coach Brent Venables and the OU football team will start spring practice on Monday.
Justin Harrington’s waiver approved
Venables started his press conference with several updates, from recent hires to some player updates.
The biggest was that linebacker/defensive back Justin Harrington, who began last season as the Sooners’ starter at cheetah, was granted an extra season of eligibility and would return.
“They’re coming along well,” Venables said of not only Harrington but also wide receiver Andrel Anthony, who was injured vs. Texas. “It’s big. Justin is a highly invested guy. He’s talented and can do a lot of impressive things. … He understands what commitment is and how we do what we do.”
Harrington was one of the stories of last year’s…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ou-football-coach-brent-venables-211721274.html
Author : The Oklahoman
Publish date : 2024-03-06 21:17:21
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