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Why LB Jaren Kanak's Grasp of Oklahoma's Defense is 'Night and Day' From 2022

The sophomore linebacker has put in plenty of work off the field throughout the spring and summer to make an impact for the Sooners this fall.

Ryan Chapman

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NORMAN — Last year was a whirlwind for Oklahoma linebacker Jaren Kanak.

Throughout high school, Kanak’s athleticism was undeniable. His coaches at Hays High School in Kansas harness his skills in many different ways, including deploying him at quarterback.

Flipping sides of the ball to play linebacker — especially under Brent Venables — was always going to be a huge adjustment.

Even after Kanak admirably filled in for DaShaun White in the second half against Nebraska, finishing with 10 tackles and a forced fumble, Venables acknowledged his young pupil still had much to learn.

“He's just learning how to play linebacker,” Venables said after the 49-14 win last September. “He has no idea what he's doing yet… I know things are going a million miles an hour for him. But he did a nice job.”

Jaren Kanak
Oklahoma linebacker Jaren Kanak had a career day against Nebraska after playing the entire second half against the Cornhuskers last September.  / © Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Now a sophomore, Kanak recognizes just how difficult his first season in Norman was with all of the new things the coaching staff threw at him mentally.

“A true freshman coming in, it’s a big deal trying to learn all the stuff at once,” Kanak said after Oklahoma’s fourth practice of fall camp on Monday. “You just take it day by day and try to learn as much as you can and take it step by step and just give effort.”

Once he got his feet under him, Kanak got to work trying to grasp all the nuances of the position.

He’s formed a close bond with fellow linebacker Danny Stutsman, as the two spent plenty of time this offseason bonding — including producing a host of action movie shorts for Twitter.

Katana skills weren’t the only thing the duo tried to hone this summer, however.

Stutsman and Kanak were hard at work in the film room, absorbing coaching points from Venables and defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Ted Roof.

“(Kanak’s) always in the film room,” Venables said last week. “He always working in the weight room and elite recovery and nutrition. He's a gym rat. He's always at the facility.

“Him and Danny are like Pete and Repeat, Frick and Frack. And I love that.”

Kanak, and all of Oklahoma’s linebackers for that matter, are in a unique position every day at practice.

Venables is not just the head coach or a brilliant defensive mind, but a linebacker at heart. He’s as hard on that group as any on the team.

But Kanak embraced the challenge from his head coach throughout the spring and summer, and is already enjoying the results early in fall camp.

“It’s like night and day,” he said. “… Just my overall knowledge. Where to put my eyes, my body control, stuff like that. Just having a holistic understanding of what’s going on around me, knowing my job as well as I know everyone else’s job and just being that leader that can take control of the defense.”

Jaren Kanak cherishes the special bond he has with head coach Brent Venables.
Jaren Kanak cherishes the special bond he has with head coach Brent Venables :: John E. Hoover / AllSooners

The Sooners need a big leap from Kanak in 2023.

White and David Ugwoegbu are gone, as those two joined with Stutsman to play virtually every significant snap at linebacker in conference play last year.

Stutsman returns as the leader of the defense, but Kanak will have to battle for snaps to make the other linebacker spot beside Stutsman his.

Ferris State transfer Konnor Near has made a good impression on the coaching staff while fellow youngster Kobie McKinzie is also trying to push for a role on the defense this year.

All of Kanak’s offseason work has to show up on the practice field this fall, as there’s legitimate competition throughout all of Oklahoma’s linebackers.

“Everybody wants to play, everybody wants to get on the field,” he said. “But we’re more focused on taking it day by day, rep by rep and just treating every rep like it’s a first-team rep. In the end, that’ll add up to whatever that adds up and we’ll get on the field that way.”

As the season approaches, Kanak’s investment in himself hasn’t been lost on either his teammates or his coaches.

“He's come a long way,” Roof said last week. “… He's one of the guys that's up there all the time working on his own and again, has earned respect from his teammates, but he's made a lot of strides this summer to study things on his own.

“… As a result of that, he's made a lot of improvements since spring practice.”

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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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