NORMAN — OU opens preseason camp Thursday with plenty to prove.
The Sooners are looking to bounce back from a second losing season in three seasons and are a team in transition.
OU has new coordinators on both sides of the ball.
Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle leads the offense with newcomers John Mateer at quarterback and Jaydn Ott at running backs and a whole host of new receiving options.
On defense, head coach Brent Venables is taking over the play-calling duties and the Sooners are replacing three defensive stalwarts — Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman Jr., and Ethan Downs.
So there’s still plenty to settle before OU’s season opener against Illinois State on Aug. 30.
Here’s a look at six players who could be primed for a breakout in preseason camp:
Kendal Daniels, linebacker
Oklahoma State transfer Kendal Daniels enters camp with high hopes.
Daniels started his career with the Cowboys as a safety before switching to linebacker last season when he played in all 12 games and made nine starts, totaling 64 tackles and 5 ½ sacks. He never fully lived up to his potential at OSU but he’s hoping to take his game to new heights with a fresh start.
“Kendal Daniels jumping into that linebacker group has made everybody better,” Venables said last week at the Sooners’ coaches conference. “He’s got great versatility.”
At 6-foot-5, 242 pounds, Daniels is expected to play cheetah, OU’s hybrid safety-linebacker-pass rusher position. Venables has been impressed with Daniels’ multifaceted abilities and he seems poised to fit right into the defensive coach’s scheme.
Assistant linebackers/outside linebackers coach Wes Goodwin, who worked with the cheetah position during spring ball, even sees some of former Clemson standout…
Source link : https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/college/sooners/2025/07/30/ou-football-breakout-players-2025-season-oklahoma-sooners-sec/85426621007/
Author :
Publish date : 2025-07-30 11:01:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
