NORMAN — In a significant development ahead of their Armed Forces Bowl matchup with Navy, OU football coach Brent Venables and several players met with reporters on Friday afternoon. This gathering came as the transfer portal season is in full swing and OU looks to address the loss of a significant amount of departing talent. Six receivers have already entered the portal, leaving a void that needs to be filled. One notable receiver, Deion Burks, who caught 31 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns in just five games in 2024 but was sidelined for most of the season due to an injury, still has yet to declare his future plans.

Coach Venables' Perspective on Burks

"Deion Burks has a lot to consider and weigh," said Venables. "We've had several conversations, and playing in the bowl game and returning next season is still very much on the table. It's a crucial decision for him, and we'll support him in whatever he decides."The Sooners have also faced the departure of several other key players through the transfer portal. Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony, Jalil Farooq, J.J. Hester, Jaquaize Pettaway, and Brenen Thompson have all moved on. Additionally, they lost out on Indiana transfer wide receiver Donaven McCulley, who visited Norman on Monday but ended up choosing Michigan on Friday.However, Venables expressed optimism about the return of Jayden Gibson, who missed the entire 2024 season with a knee injury. In late October, he indicated that most of the injured receivers from the past season had expressed their desire to return in 2025."The situation is fluid," said Venables. "Who knows what goes into these decisions? There are some guys who might feel they need a fresh start. My job is to ensure that whoever is here appreciates, is thankful for, and respects their opportunity. This is truly the most unstable time in college football history."

Quarterback and Tight End Needs

It's no secret that OU needs to add a quarterback following the portal entries of Jackson Arnold and Brendan Zurbrugg. Michael Hawkins Jr. will start in the bowl game and return next season, as he stated on Friday.It appears the Sooners have been waiting for Washington State quarterback John Mateer to enter the portal. Mateer has been practicing with the Cougars during bowl prep and has yet to make a decision about his future. WSU coach Jake Dickert told local reporters that Mateer will take time this week to think about his next steps.Venables acknowledged that OU can't enter the next season with just two quarterbacks and is diligently working to address this need. "We've got some work to do to get that room where it needs to be so we can compete in the SEC. That's our focus."Another position of need for the Sooners is tight end. Bauer Sharp signed with LSU on Friday, and Jake Roberts is graduating this weekend."Our plan is to build the depth back to where we need it," said Venables. "Tight ends are one of the most undervalued positions on the team. They are critical on special teams and play a vital role in what we want to achieve and who we are as a team."

Defensive Player Updates

Defensive end R Mason Thomas confirmed he will play in the bowl game but is still in "deep thought" about his future and is unsure when he will make a decision. Thomas finished the 2024 season with 22 tackles and nine sacks and would be a significant returner for the Sooners in 2025.As for safety Robert Spears-Jennings, he said he is planning to speak with his family but is "most likely" to return to OU.

Senior LB Danny Stutsman's Decision

Senior linebacker Danny Stutsman penned a note thanking Sooner fans for the past four seasons. He didn't explicitly state whether he plans to opt-out of the bowl game."It's not really for me to say whether or not he's going to play," said Venables. "But look at what he's accomplished! He's been an All-American and a First Team All-SEC in his first year. I'm incredibly proud and thankful for all the seniors. His growth and maturity have been remarkable. Where we were when he got here to where we are today is like two different worlds."Stutsman finished his final collegiate season with a team-high 109 tackles and was a Butkus finalist. He was also named to the All-SEC first team and the Walter Camp and AFCA FBS coaches' All-American first teams this week.

New Offensive Assistant Hired

OU is set to hire Washington State quarterbacks coach John Kuceyeski as a senior offensive assistant/assistant quarterback coach, as reported by 247Sports on Friday. Alongside new Sooners offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, Kuceyeski helped the Cougars rank 11th nationally in scoring this season. He worked closely with Arbuckle at WSU, helping develop John Mateer and Cam Ward.Venables was asked if keeping the current offensive staff was a requirement for Arbuckle when he took the job."I asked everybody what their non-negotiables are," said Venables. "If you take the job, what do you need at your disposal to be successful? I believe we have a good staff, but nobody here is obligated to keep anyone. If he needed to bring a couple guys, he would have been able to do that. And he has some off-the-field guys who were really important to him, so we've created an opportunity for him to bring them."