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Oklahoma Coach Brent Venables Addresses LB Danny Stutsman's Future Ahead of Alamo Bowl

The Sooners' coach left comments on his star linebacker's future up to Stutsman amid reports that he will forego his senior season to head to the NFL.

Ryan Chapman

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Despite reports about Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman’s intention to enter the NFL Draft, Brent Venables was noncommittal on his future.

The OU coach and his Alamo Bowl counterpart, Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch, traveled to San Antonio and held a press conference on Thursday, and addressed a variety of topics.

Wednesday night, SoonerScoop.com reported that Stutsman and Venables had met, and Stutsman indicated he would not return to Norman so he could pursue an NFL career.

Stutsman has not officially announced his decision, and Venables deferred to his star linebacker.

“Everything has its time,” Venables said. “And whenever Danny’s prepared to let everybody know what his future is gonna look like, out of respect for him, I’ll reserve comment for that moment in time.”

Throughout his three years at Oklahoma, Stutsman totaled 261 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, seven sacks, four forced fumbles, three interceptions (one of which was a pick six) and seven pass breakups.

Fighting through an ankle injury sustained at the end of the first half against Kansas that cost him the second half in Lawrence and the ability to play in Bedlam, Stutsman tallied 99 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and his interception return for a touchdown against Tulsa in 2023.

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“Danny had an amazing year,” Venables said. “As good of a leader as we have on our team. As good of a leader as I’ve been around. His passion, his love, his respect that he has for his teammates and his teammates have for him … he’s represented everything that you would want for a leader.

“He’s made everyone around him better and there’s not a player in our locker room that loves the University of Oklahoma and respects his opportunity and what this has meant for him in his life more than Danny Stutsman.”

Without Stutsman, the Sooners will return a trio of linebackers entering their third year in Norman in Kip Lewis, Kobie McKinzie and Jaren Kanak.

Oklahoma also signed a talented linebacker class in 2023, with Samuel Omosigho and Lewis Carter both contributing on special teams this year for the Sooners. Phil Picciotti sustained a season-ending injury, but he should also factor into the linebacker group in 2024.

Venables may still look to add to his linebacker corps, however.

Arkansas linebacker Chris Paul Jr., who entered the portal after racking up 74 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks as a redshirt sophomore in 2023, announced he received an offer from OU on Thursday morning in a statement on X.

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Still, Venables spoke fondly of Stutsman, who he clearly formed a close bond with throughout his first two years as the head coach of the Sooners.

“I’ve got great thankfulness and appreciation for everything that Danny represents and what he’s done to help us the last two years,” Venables said. 

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Ryan Chapman
RYAN CHAPMAN

Ryan is deputy editor at AllSooners and covers a number of sports in and around Norman and Oklahoma City. Working both as a journalist and a sports talk radio host, Ryan has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the United States Men’s National Soccer Team, the Oklahoma City Energy and more. Since 2019, Ryan has simultaneously pursued a career as both a writer and a sports talk radio host, working for the Flagship for Oklahoma sports, 107.7 The Franchise, as well as AllSooners.com. Ryan serves as a contributor to The Franchise’s website, TheFranchiseOK.com, which was recognized as having the “Best Website” in 2022 by the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters. Ryan holds an associate’s degree in Journalism from Oklahoma City Community College in Oklahoma City, OK. 

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