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Crimson Countdown: No. 12 Jaren Kanak

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo08/18/25BPrzybylo
Jaren Kanak
Oklahoma tight end Jaren Kanak working during OU fall camp. Photo - Carey Murdock

The Crimson Countdown is officially on for the 2025 Oklahoma football season. Everybody wants to forget about 2024 and move forward.

Head coach Brent Venables and staff have attempted to do that. New face calling the offense (Ben Arbuckle). Venables calling the defense, it’s now or never for this regime at OU in the SEC. No beating around the bush.

Every day as we get closer to kickoff, SoonerScoop.com will count down the days with you. Starting with No. 99 and working our way to No. 0, we’ll be there every step of the way.

Crimson Countdown: No. 12 Jaren Kanak

2024 stats: Played in 13 games, 17 tackles, fumble return for touchdown

2025 outlook:

This would be the feel-good story of OU. If Kanak can make the move from inside linebacker to solid tight end, everybody is going to have a smile on their face.

Everybody wants Kanak to be successful. Talk to him for just a few minutes, and you can tell how much being a Sooner means to him. How much the faith the OU coaching staff means to him.

So now we enter the second chapter with Kanak and how will things fare at tight end. The good thing is we know he’ll have plenty of chances to attempt to make something happen.

That same dedication he had at linebacker has been showing up offensively. It’s a lot to ask in year No. 4 to make that type of switch, but he has gone as all-in with it as you can.

Kanak is going to see some time on the field, at least initially. What he does with those reps will tell the rest of the 2025 story.

2025 tight end outlook

OU has to find some sort of production from this group going forward. It has been the one spot, since after the 2022 season, where you have not seen any signs of positive development. That must change in 2025, or OU is going to have to take a look in the mirror. Between guys like Carson Kent and Will Huggins, maybe OU has been able to find the answer? Or maybe it’s in the development of guys who were already on campus? Either way, it’s up to Joe Jon Finley to get this room going once again.

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