Brick by Brick: OU’s D-Line Recruiting, RB Shake-Up, and Venables’ Game Week Vision

It’s game week in Norman, and the Sooner Nation Podcast is breaking down everything you need to know heading into the 2025 season opener. We kick things off with recruiting, as Brent Venables and Todd Bates add another critical building block to Oklahoma’s SEC-ready defensive line: Virginia DT T-Ron Richardson. What makes him a fit, why the staff stayed consistent, and how OU is building depth in the trenches. From there, we turn to the running backs — a position that went from a liability in 2024 to a strength in 2025. With Cal transfer Jaydn Ott, veterans like Jovantae Barnes, and young talent like Xavier Robinson, Taylor Tatum, and Tory Blaylock, this backfield may finally look like vintage OU again. We also unpack Brent Venables’ game week press conference, where he set the tone for year four in Norman. From the quarterback decision, to culture and player development, to what’s changed since his arrival, Venables made it clear: this roster is different. Finally, we react to the Week 1 depth chart surprise — Ott listed third at running back behind Barnes and Blaylock. What does it mean? Should fans panic? Or is this just part of the bigger picture with Michigan looming in Week 2? All that and more on this week’s episode of the Sooner Nation Podcast — subscribe and join the conversation as Oklahoma’s season finally kicks off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices