Venables on Kendel Dolby's status: 'He's just trying to figure everything out'

by: Jesse Crittenden10/21/25JesseCrittenden

Syndication: The Oklahoman — Oklahoma coach Brent Venables celebrates with Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Kendel Dolby (15) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Michigan Wolverines at Gaylord Family Ð Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Oklahoma won 24-13.

NORMAN — Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables was non-committal on Tuesday regarding cornerback Kendel Dolby’s status with the team.

Dolby surprisingly popped up on last Friday’s SEC Availability Report and was ruled out for the Sooners’ game against South Carolina. Dolby — who was not on the availability report on Wednesday or Thursday — didn’t travel to Columbia in the Sooners’ eventual 26-7 win over the Gamecocks.

When asked during his weekly press conference about Dolby’s status, Venables didn’t say anything definitive.

“He’s just trying to figure everything out,” Venables said. “He’s practicing. That’s kind of where he is.

Venables, notably, added that Dolby is expected to be available this weekend against Ole Miss (11 a.m. Saturday, ABC).

Dolby emerged as one of the Sooners’ best defensive players last season before suffering an ankle injury in Week 4 against Tennessee, which forced him out for the rest of the season. He missed both the spring and fall this year, making his season debut in the Sooners’ 40-0 win at Temple. He started at cornerback, switching to that position from cheetah during the spring.

“The first two weeks, it’s been tough that I wasn’t playing, not part of the plan, but things happen,” Dolby said after the game. Going into this week feeling good, body feeling great and just knowing the trajectory of my body was good, and I knew that this week I’d be able to go out there and play a little bit, so it felt good, know what I’m saying? A little calmness — just being able to get back out there, shaking the rust off a little bit, but it definitely felt good though.”

Dolby got the start against the Owls but has barely appeared in SEC play, logging nine combined snaps against Texas and Auburn. The Sooners have leaned more on Eli Bowen, Gentry Williams and Courtland Guillory at cornerback in recent weeks, while Kendal Daniels and Reggie Powers have seen the bulk of the work at cheetah.

Dolby, a redshirt senior, has appeared in four games this season.

The first SEC Availability Report this week will be released at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday.

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