To the casual observer, the Oklahoma football program appeared to simply extend offers to a group of 2026 athletes on Friday. However, those closely following college football would recognize that the offer made to Glassboro, New Jersey’s upcoming junior, Amari Sabb, may have had ulterior motives. Sabb is undeniably a highly sought-after prospect, having received offers from prominent programs like the Michigan Wolverines, Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, Boston College Eagles, and Ole Miss Reb
els. Yet, the timing of Oklahoma’s offer to Sabb raises eyebrows, particularly considering his brother, Keon Sabb, who was once committed to current OU head coach Brent Venables during his time with the Clemson Tigers, announced his decision to leave the Michigan Wolverines and enter the transfer portal on the same day.
Timing of this offer is… notable. https://t.co/hAfAuegpUG
— Parker Thune (@ParkerThune) February 16, 2024
Keon Sabb initially committed to Clemson in July of 2021. However, he decided to decommit from the ACC program just a day after defensive coordinator Brent Venables departed for the head coaching position at Oklahoma Sooners. Subsequently, Sabb opted to sign with the Michigan Wolverines less than a month later.
Oklahoma Football: Eyeing Sabb Brothers
The Oklahoma Sooners extended an offer to Amari Sabb, with the hope of securing his older brother, Keon Sabb. Amari, the younger sibling, has garnered attention from five other prestigious Division I programs while excelling at Glassboro High School in New Jersey. Despite being a sophomore, Amari showcased his talent on the field last year, recording 16 receptions for 173 yards and four touchdowns, along with 48 rushes for 328 yards and five scores. Additionally, he contributed on defense with nine tackles and an interception.
On the other hand, Keon Sabb has spent the past two seasons with the Michigan Wolverines. Initially a highly-rated four-star prospect, he saw limited action in four games as a freshman in 2022 without registering any statistics. However, in the following season, Keon emerged as a rotational starter at safety for the national championship-winning Wolverines. He started five games out of 14, finishing the 2023 campaign with 28 tackles, 0.5 sacks, seven passes defended, two interceptions, and a touchdown. Notably, Keon delivered strong performances during his team’s title run in the College Football Playoff, contributing seven tackles in two games, including one start, and defending two passes.
Brent Venables: Continuing to Improve OU’s Defense
Under Brent Venables’ predecessor, Lincoln Riley, the Oklahoma Sooners struggled on defense, conceding more than 25 points per game in all but one of his five seasons. Venables’ inaugural season with Oklahoma football proved challenging, ending with a 6-7 record and a loss in the Cheez-It Bowl to the Florida State Seminoles with a score of 35-22. During this season, Oklahoma allowed an average of 30.0 points per game, ranking as the 32nd-worst defensive average in the country. However, the Sooners, under Venables’ leadership, made significant improvements in 2023. They allowed only 23.5 points per game, marking their lowest defensive average since 2020. Notably, linebacker Danny Stutsman emerged as a defensive standout, amassing 104 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, three sacks, and an interception. Stutsman is set to return next season, playing a crucial role in anchoring the OU defense.
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