Oklahoma trainer Brent Venables emphasizes 'Fun' transfers at the Sec Media Days

Atlanta – John Mateer And Jaydn Ott are not the only transfers that Brent Venables is excited about.

At the SEC Media Days on Wednesday, Venables found a handful of other new sooners, which he will produce immediately. Oklahoma ended the No. 12 in 247sports' 2025 Transfer Portal Team lists with 21 commits.

“They are good players and have fun,” said Venables. “You are happy to work. You are a modest group of boys.”

One that emphasized venables is Jake Maikkula.

Maikula, an offensive Lineman, comes to Norman after three years in Stanford. He started 16 games for the cardinal in two seasons and played both security guard and the middle.

The 6-5, 299-pound lineman is followed by a position group that desperately needs reinforcements.

OU started different offensive line combinations in each of the first nine games of the 2024 season. Earlier offensive lines Branson HickmanPresent Spencer Brown And Michael Tarquin completed the program while Josh AisosaPresent Josh BatesPresent Eugene Brooks And Geirean Hatchett all transfer.

At the beginning of Maikula's time in Norman, he convinced Venables that he will give the line of the OU continuity.

“Maikkula changed his body really quickly in a very short time and fit exactly,” said Venables. “He is a really sporty guy and loves to fight and work.”

Oklahoma also urgently needs production through the air and venables believes Jer'michael Carter will help.

In 2024, Carter State State 37 passes for 537 yards and three touchdowns. Carter is listed with 6-4 and 192 pounds and rated as a 3-star transfer by 247sports.

Oklahoma saw some of his most important widows – how Nic AndersonPresent Jalil FarooQPresent Andrel Anthony And Deion Burks – Missed the time due to various injuries in 2024.

Carter, which only had a division that I offered outside the high school, brought a high degree of enthusiasm for the program Pro Venables.

“Jer'michael, he is great,” said Venables. “Again only an energy hall. He loves the practice field, the weight room 7-against-7; this is his sanctuary. He is one of the guys that he is like a pig in the mud when he is outside on the practice field and is together with the boys. But he loves to compete.

Venables also saw special teams as an area that improved due to the OU Portal Spree.

In particular, Venables believes kicker Tate Sandell will be one of the nation's leading place kickers. In the UTSA in 2024 Sandell combined 19 of 23 field goals and received an honorable mention of all-AAC honors.

“I don't know who the All-Pro-kickers are, but they would think he's in the Hall of Fame in the NFL,” said Venables. “He has a really cool self -confidence right now. It is not an arrogance. It is a trust that you know when you see it and you know if you don't.”

The competition for the start -kicker job will also be Austin whatwho changed from the state of Kennesaw after making 14 of 18 external destinations in 2024. The Sooners also packed Punters Jacob Ulrich (Kennesaw State) and Grayson Miller (Central Oklahoma) from the portal and a wide recipient/returnee Isaiah Sategna (Arkansas).

Oklahoma begins on Saturday, August 30th, the 2025 season against the state of Illinois.