Jaren Kanak 'checked out okay' after being carted off field, per Brent Venables

The Oklahoma Sooners picked up a tough win on the road against one of the new additions to the Big 12, the Cincinnati Bearcats. However, that 20-6 victory came with an uneasy moment for the Sooners and their fans. Sophomore linebacker Jaran Kanak had to be carted off the field in the fourth quarter.

Initially, it was unclear what was going on with Kanak. However, it was later revealed he was dealing with a chest injury. After the game, Sooners head coach Brent Venables provided an update on his linebackers’ health and condition after he had to be carted off the field.

According to Venables, Kanak has undergone a few tests, and those tests “checked out okay.”

“Jaren Kanak, he got hit in the chest. Early results of things seem he’ll be OK. We had him checked out locally here. And hopefully, everything will continue to check out,” said Venables. 

The sophomore from Hays, KS, was all over the field for Oklahoma, as they picked up the win Saturday. It was his best performance of the season, with seven total tackles with two solo, and five assisted.

Kanak had to be taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. Fox college football sideline reporter Jenny Taft reported the Sonners linebacker was on the sideline coughing up blood and had trouble breathing, which is why he had to be carted off the field. The severity of his injury was not disclosed. Still, Kanak appears to be doing better, as Veneables stated and has since been released from the hospital.

Venables discusses the value of parity in college football

Venables also shared his thoughts on the value of parity throughout college football. As it turns out, it’s good for the sport, according to the Sooners head coach.

“I don’t know if it’s a challenge for us or not,” Venables said this week. “For us, just want to focus inside out, but I do think there seems to be more parity and I think it’s a great thing for college football. And I don’t make the rules and they don’t really ask us a whole lot about, you know what our thoughts are on some of those rules.

“So we try to take advantage of the landscape that we’re in, and at the end of the day, you know, to have something that’s sustainable and has longevity, I do believe that continuity is an important piece of what you’re doing.”