Brent Venables gives update on Eli Bowen's status for fall camp

NORMAN — The Sooners will be without one of their starting cornerbacks as fall camp begins on Thursday.

OU coach Brent Venables said Wednesday that Eli Bowen will not be available for the start of fall camp. Bowen has been dealing with an ankle injuries since spring practices a few months ago, and it’s unclear when he’ll be back on the field with the season opener a month away.

It’ll be a key situation to monitor as fall camp progresses. Bowen started the final eight games of last season and emerged as one of the team’s best defensive players, logging at least 38 snaps in every contest during that stretch.

However, Venables also revealed that Kendel Dolby will take some snaps at cornerback during fall camp. Dolby — who has primarily played at the cheetah position the last two seasons — was quickly becoming one of the Sooners’ most productive players before suffering a season-ending injury against Tennessee.

In the interim, Dolby will presumably take some first-string snaps at cornerback alongside Gentry Williams, who is also healthy after injury-plagued campaigns in 2023 and 2024. Venables also lauded the young players at cornerback, particularly Devon Jordan.

Venables also noted wide receiver Javonnie Gibson continues to be “on schedule” to return from the broken leg he suffered in the spring. Offensive linemen Heath Ozaeta and Logan Howland have both recovered from offseason and surgeries and both should be full participants in fall camp, Venables added.

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