CB Lebron Bauer signs with Oklahoma, turning his dream to reality
(by Parker Thune) Jim Nagy had one last trick up his sleeve before the 2026 recruiting cycle wrapped up. For his final act, the Sooners’ general manager decided to sign a cornerback… without a cornerbacks coach on staff. Although Jay Valai left for the NFL on Monday, Oklahoma is celebrating one final addition to its 2026 class some...read more from the OUInsider
Spring Ball Will Show if Oklahoma's James Nesta is Ready for Defensive Snaps
(by Brady Trantham) Per Pro Football Focus, James Nesta has only seen the field on defense for just under 50 snaps during his two years in Norman. He redshirted in 2024 after only seeing action in the opener and the bowl game, but was able to see the field in conference play in 2025. It wasn't for a lack of ability. The Sooners were plenty...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
SIP Ep. 245 | Jay Valai leaves Oklahoma for the NFL...what now for OU? + OU Hoops is a disaster
(by Josh Callaway) As the calendar has flipped to February, the Sooners Illustrated Podcast is back with a brand new episode to break down the latest on a myriad of OU sports. Sooners Illustrated's Josh Callaway and Tom Green start things off on the gridiron where they react to cornerback coach Jay Valai's decision to leave Oklahoma for...listen to podcast from Sooners Illustrated
Who Might Oklahoma Pursue to Replace CBs Coach Jay Valai?
(by Carson Field) The Sooners are on the hunt for a new cornerbacks coach. After four years on Oklahoma’s defensive staff, Jay Valai is headed to the NFL to serve as the Buffalo Bills’ cornerbacks coach. Valai is one of two assistants to depart from the program since the conclusion of the 2025 season, along with Joe Jon Finley, who the school...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Can Oklahoma Unlock Tight End Hayden Hansen's Full Potential?
(by Carson Field) Hayden Hansen never reached his full potential at Florida. The tight end’s best season came in 2025, when he caught 30 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. In his three seasons with the Gators, Hansen totaled 611 yards and five touchdowns. But there’s reason to believe that he’ll be impactful for Oklahoma...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Report: OU cornerbacks coach Jay Valai targeted for NFL job
(by Jesse Crittenden) Oklahoma cornerbacks coach Jay Valai could make a leap to the professional ranks. The Buffalo Bills have targeted Valai for a defensive backs coaching job, per a report from CBS Sports’ Matt Zentiz. Valai, who also serves as associate head coach for defense and co-defensive coordinator, has been with the Sooners the...read more from the OUInsider
TRANSFER: Oklahoma adds Eastern Kentucky offensive lineman Fred Hinton
(by Collin Kennedy) The Oklahoma Sooners are set to return several along the offensive line for 2026. But OU wanted to add depth and competition to complete the room through the 2026 NCAA transfer portal. Another quality step towards that goal is in as former Eastern Kentucky front liner Fred Hinton officially enrolls in Norman. Hinton stands...read more from Sooners Illustrated
Oklahoma sets 2026 salaries for Brent Venables's coaching staff
(by Zach Barnett) It's full steam ahead in Norman for Year 4 of the Brent Venables era, which on Friday included setting salaries for a number of the Sooners' returning assistants, as well as new tight ends coach Jason Witten. Judging by the money awarded on Friday, Venables was highly pleased with his defensive line room after a season that...read more from FootballScoop.com
Jim Nagy: Oklahoma LB Owen Heinecke's Appeal Denied by NCAA
(by Ryan Aber) NORMAN — Oklahoma linebacker Owen Heinecke, one of the Sooners' best defenders, is down to a last-gasp opportunity for another season of eligibility. OU general manager Jim Nagy posted on X (formerly Twitter) Thursday night that Heinecke's appeal to the NCAA had been denied. Nagy said that OU would make a final appeal...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
The Hierarchy of Leadership in the Wake of Oklahoma's Introduction of Roger Denny
(by Brady Trantham) NORMAN — When Bob Stoops had his program winning at a high-level in the 2000s, he'd often credit the leadership structure that had been in place since he came to Norman in late-1998. Then-Oklahoma president David Boren had been in charge since the mid-1990s and had hired Joe Castiglione to head the athletic...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Four-star RB Micah Rhodes is the Sooners' first 2028 commit
(by Parker Thune) DeMarco Murray got his man in Micah Rhodes. In his career as Oklahoma’s running backs coach, Murray has only ever offered one prospect who had yet to play a down of high school football. That was Rhodes, all the way back in June of 2024. And nearly two years later, Murray and the Sooners have now picked up Rhodes’...read more from the OUInsider
Sooners quietly add transfer RB to the roster
(by Aaron Gelvin) The Oklahoma Sooners had a very busy transfer portal window from January 2nd to 16th, seeing a bevy of players leave the roster, but also adding key pieces to the team for 2026. The Sooners have quietly added another player to the team, marking the 17th portal addition this month for OU. In the same time period...read more from the Sooners Wire
SIP Ep. 244 | Early standouts from Oklahoma winter workouts + First impressions of OU AD Roger Denny
(by Josh Callaway) Sooners Illustrated's Josh Callaway and Collin Kennedy dive into some early standouts from Oklahoma winter workouts, recap all the biggest takeaways from the introduction of new OU athletic director Roger Denny, catch up on some recruiting news and recap the latest happenings at both the Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl...listen to podcast from Sooners Illustrated
What is Roger Denny's top priority as OU's new AD?
(by Jesse Crittenden) NORMAN — There’s a laundry list of things to do for Oklahoma’s new athletic director. But for Roger Denny, there’s a top agenda item — figuring out the NCAA v. House Settlement. The settlement was approved last year, allowing schools to share revenue directly with student athletes. The annual cap for the 2025-26 academic...read more from the OUInsider
As Oklahoma Regents Set Pivotal Meeting, OU Athletics is Front and Center
(by John E. Hoover) Thursday’s meeting of the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents will put OU athletics front and center. In addition to the hiring of Roger Denny as the Sooners’ new athletic director — the hire will be approved and the school is expected to reveal details of his contract — several football coaches will have their...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
What are the Biggest Challenges Roger Denny Faces Early in Tenure as Oklahoma's AD
(by Ryan Aber) NORMAN — Roger Denny has his work cut out for him quickly as he takes over for Joe Castiglione as Oklahoma’s athletic director. Denny, who will be formally introduced into the role at a ceremony Wednesday at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, comes into the role in one of the most tumultuous times in...read more from Oklahoma Sooners on SI
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer on too-early Heisman contender list
(by Eric W. Bolin) Maybe a year with less pressure and a year of Southeastern Conference experience will lift John Mateer to expected heights. It's not that the Oklahoma quarterback was bad in his first season in Norman. He began the year as Heisman Trophy-contender and even shot to the top of the list after OU's first two games...read more from the Sooners Wire
Venables, Oklahoma add Matt Manninger to strength staff
(by Parker Thune) As Oklahoma prepares for the post-Jerry Schmidt era, the Sooners are set to make an addition to their strength and conditioning staff. Ex-Illinois S&C staffer Matt Manninger will assume a role as Associate Director of Performance under new head strength coach James Dobson. Manninger, an Omaha, Neb. native, has deep ties...read more from the OUInsider
Clendon Thomas, legendary OU football RB, dies at 90
(by Joe Mussatto) Clendon Thomas, a former Southeast High School standout who starred at running back for Oklahoma before an 11-year NFL career, died late Monday night. He was 90. His lifelong friend and former Sooner teammate, Chuck Bowman, shared the news with The Oklahoman. Thomas played for coach Bud Wilkinson at OU from 1955-57...read more from The Oklahoman
SIP Ep. 243 | Oklahoma has a new AD + OU Football winter workouts underway & OU Hoops is spiraling
(by Josh Callaway) Following a busy weekend for Oklahoma sports, the Sooners Illustrated Podcast is back with a brand new episode. Sooners Illustrated's Josh Callaway and Tom Green catch up on all the latest news coming out of Norman, starting first with OU's new athletic director Roger Denny after he was officially announced the university...listen to podcast from Sooners Illustrated
