Brent Venables Gives MAJOR Oklahoma Football Update At SEC Spring Meetings

DESTIN, Fla. - Brent Venables had some of the best news Oklahoma fans could ask for today at the SEC Spring Meetings.

The head coach provided positive health updates on several important players, confirming that defensive tackles David Stone and Jayden Jackson, along with running backs Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson, are all expected to be ready to roll for the 2026 season.

When asked about the group, Venables didn’t hold back his excitement.

“Yeah, great,” Venables said. “They’re all going to be released and ready to go. Back here next week, and excited for all those guys. This is year two for Tory, year three for Xavier, year three for Jayden, year three for Stone, amongst others.”

All four players are slated to be full participants when summer workouts begin next week. Having this group healthy and available from the jump is huge for Oklahoma’s outlook this fall.

Stone and Jackson are impact players on the defensive line.

David Stone in particular has first-round NFL talent written all over him and should be a disruptive force in the interior.

Jayden Jackson adds depth and versatility up front.

On the offensive side, Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson give OU proven options in the backfield. Despite only averaging 3.5 yards per carry as a team, the run game showed flashes last season, even when the Sooners were short-handed in the backfield.

Getting both backs back at full strength should make the ground attack much more consistent and physical in 2026.

Venables went on to highlight the bigger picture of experience returning to the program.

“I think we had seven to nine players that either started or were really kind of co-starters (on defense),” Venables said.

“So we’ll have a lot of guys on the football team, and particularly, again, on defense, that they’re in year three. A few guys are year four — couple of guys like Kip (Lewis) and Owen (Heinecke), they’re year five. Peyton Bowen, year four, Eli (Bowen), year three. Jayden (Jackson) and David (Stone) and Danny Okoye, all year three. Taylor (Wein), year four. And those are, foundationally — that’s a big part of it. When you have the depth and experience coming back, who are also good players, who have played good, winning football.”

He continued on the offensive side as well: “We had nine first-year starters for us on offense a year ago. And so this year, again, as I said, a lot more guys that are coming into year two, year three, maybe a few guys year four playing college football. I think that’ll matter as well.”

This experience returning, especially on the defensive line and in the backfield, should help the Sooners massively.

Year three guys like Stone and Jackson have had time to develop in the system. Adding continuity up front on both sides of the ball is exactly what this program has been building toward.

On a side note, Venables himself showed up to the meetings wearing a neck brace after undergoing surgery where four vertebrae were fused.

Overall, these updates are exactly what Oklahoma fans needed to hear heading into the summer.