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Why Brent Venables Believes Oklahoma LB Jaren Kanak Will Make 'Tremendous' Progress in 2023

The true sophomore linebacker was named a starter alongside Danny Stutsman on Tuesday.

Ryan Chapman

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NORMAN — On the verge of starting his second season at Oklahoma, linebacker Jaren Kanak is primed to make an impact.

The true sophomore was named a starter at the heart of Brent Venables’ OU defense alongside Danny Stutsman on Tuesday, a huge development for a player who competed mostly as a skill player in high school.

Merely being named a starter is just the beginning of the story Kanak hopes to write in 2023, however, as he’s not satisfied with earning the spot alongside Stutsman out of fall camp.

“Obviously, that’s something that everybody wants,” Kanak said on Tuesday. “Wants to be named as a starter at a place like this.

“… I’ve been named the starter, but I need to go out and execute and play. And that’s what I’m more so focused on and looking forward to.”

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As a true freshman, Kanak found his way onto the field out of necessity.

He totaled 23 tackles, notching 10 tackles and a forced fumble against Nebraska after DaShaun White was flagged for targeting in the first half.

Still, Venables acknowledged Kanak was incredibly raw last year, and the OU head coach is excited by Kanak’s development this offseason.

“He just had a lot that he didn’t know,” Venables said on Tuesday. “You’re talking about the first time (playing linebacker).

“… He has worked tirelessly to put him in the position to be capable of playing good, quality football. And he's nowhere close to what he's going to be… He'll make tremendous improvement during the season.”

Throughout the spring and summer, Kanak has leaned on Stutsman to help him digest all the nuances of playing linebacker.

Working alongside his teammates and under Venables and defensive coordinator Ted Roof, Kanak said he’s been able to find a greater understanding of what will be asked of him every snap.

“On defense, it’s trained reaction,” he said. “So it’s knowing what to see and knowing ‘when this happens, why I got to do this? And who’s with me?’ And just the trained reaction aspect of it, knowing where to put my eyes and what to do when ‘this’ happens.

“It’s kind of the bigger thing I’ve started adapting to.”

Jaren Kanak
Jaren Kanak / © Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Studying off the field has become a big part of Kanak’s routine as well, especially honing in on what exactly to try and look out for from opposing offenses.

“The more you study film and watch film, the more you see that this stuff is actually very similar,” Kanak said. “Everybody does the same stuff and it kind of blends together and you start, it becomes more natural seeing things happen as they happen and what it leads to, and how to react to that depending on the coverage.”

As excited as the defensive coaching staff is for the physical tools Kanak brings to the position, there will still be plenty of moments where the young linebacker will have to learn on the job.

“(He’ll) be baptized during the season,” Venables said. “I have no illusions of grandeur. That's going to happen too.

“But I bet on people and we've got an amazing group of people in the linebacker room. That's not a coach, just touting his guys. That's not how it is. If they weren't a group of guys that weren't about the things I'm talking about, you know, I wouldn't say it.

“And so I've got tremendous excitement for that group, Jaren and his development.”

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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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