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Brent Venables responds to Brenen Thompson playing on both sides of Red River Showdown

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh10/06/23griffin_mcveigh
NCAA Football: Iowa State at Oklahoma
Sep 30, 2023; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Brenen Thompson (15) makes a catch in fron tof Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jeremiah Cooper (4) and Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Beau Freyler (17) during the first half at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Not too often do you see players crossing over the Red River. But with how the NCAA transfer portal works these days, anything is possible. Wide receiver Brenen Thompson took a drive up I-35, leaving the Texas Longhorns in favor of the Oklahoma Sooners.

Thompson will now face his former team on Saturday in the Red River Shootout, which is his second game in the rivalry. The juices could be flowing a bit more for Thompson but head coach Brent Venables wants to make sure Thompson is just playing his normal game. Doing your job correctly will go a long way to winning this type of intense matchup.

“Just try to take away the burden of expectations,” Venables said. “You’re one of 16 guys in the position group. You get onto the field, you’re one of 11. Do your job, do it well, do it with toughness and precision, and detail. No more, no less. So, you just try to get him to play with the right mindset.”

Thompson has caught just two passes this season, both coming last week against Iowa State. They went for a total of 62 yards, returning just at the right time. You know he would love nothing more than to make an impact at the Cotton Bowl against a few of his former teammates.

Brent Venables explains why Brenen Thompson is a culture fit at Oklahoma

Part of the reason Thompson transferred to Oklahoma is because he felt like they were a better culture fit for him compared to Texas. The Sooners were in Thompson’s final three coming out of high school and plenty of coaches still on staff post-Lincoln Riley had a relationship with him.

Venables was familiar with the wide receiver too but once Thompson jumped in the portal, the relationship began to grow with family. Since then, it’s worked out pretty well for everyone involved.

“We had a lot of coaches that had relationships with him and his family through the recruiting process,” Venables said. “I know of him coming out of high school. But, talk to him and his Mom for five minutes — they’re amazing people. They would fit in any environment really well. Great people.

“He’s got a humble, hardworking mindset. Incredibly talented and he’s been a great teammate. He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. Was a little snake bit with a hamstring injury. But got great, great speed. Very explosive