Brent Venables reveals how he plans to utilize the transfer portal moving forward

Brent Venables has a unique vision for how Oklahoma will utilize the transfer portal moving forward during his tenure.

While the Sooners had to go to the well a myriad of times to fill holes in their roster, that’s not how Venables wants to build his roster. During an appearance on The College Football Daily podcast, the Oklahoma leader revealed how the Sooners will utilize the portal moving forward.

“I would love to rely heavily on high school kids, and be a development program,” started Venables. “I believe inherently in that. Having guys here for three, four and five years. The continuity helps you be successful, both in your staff and in the locker room. There’s no reason for pause for young people, because there’s no penalty if they want to pick up and leave. I know people can be irrational, I’ve got two nephews and two sons in college. I’ve got daughters 12 and 13. They can be a little emotionally irrational. That’s what they are. So, you’ve got to address those holes and the voids in your roster where and how you see fit.

“We feel like we’ve done that through the off-season. We lost a lot of guys to graduation, a bunch of guys came out early. And then we had some portal guys. All three happened. So, we’ve had close to 50 plus with both scholarship and walk-ons, between mid year — we had 26 guys who just moved in last Saturday. So, it’s exciting. Everybody’s different. Everybody has a story, and is on a journey. That’s a very exciting thing to bring it all together, and get them to mesh and work together for a common purpose.”

While the transfer portal has become a huge part of roster building, Brent Venables knows how volatile it can be. The first-year Sooners coach knows exactly what he wants from it moving forward, and it’ll be interesting to see him enact his strategy.

Brent Venables reveals what special attributes Dillon Gabriel brings to Oklahoma

Brent Venables is confident that Dillon Gabriel is the quarterback Oklahoma needs this season. A transfer from UCF, Gabriel is set to start for the Sooners in 2022 following the departures of both Caleb Williams and Spencer Rattler.

Gabriel has the benefit of working new Sooners offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby, who served in the same role at UCF during the 2019 season. That familiarity with the system was evident during spring practice, but more than that Venables saw the qualities that make Gabriel such a special player.

“It was a fun spring,” Venables said on the College Football Daily podcast. “At times for coach Lebby probably frustrating because everything was new for everyone other than Dillon. Dillon was the one guy that had experience within the system. The rest of them really hadn’t thrown a ball in a college game at Oklahoma. Dillon really transitioned quickly. Very calm. He’s not a big ‘Rah-Rah’ guy. Incredibly confident and shows tremendous humility day in and day out. He’s got a positivity, good juice and a great presence to him. He’s always ready. He’s a ball junkie always around the football offices nonstop and players like him. They’re attracted to his work ethic and his humility. He’s got a can-do, get-to mindset with everything that he does.”

Dillon Gabriel has plenty of expectations to live up to at Oklahoma, which has become known for its high level of quarterback play over the years. The Sooners have sent three quarterbacks to the NFL over the past five seasons in Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts.