Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables and his team are coming off a challenging first season in the SEC, ending with a 6-7 overall record and a 2-6 performance in conference play. The season concluded on a disappointing note with a narrow 21-20 loss to the Navy Midshipmen in the Armed Forces Bowl. This marks the second consecutive losing season for Venables since taking over as head coach in 2022. Despite these struggles, the university has chosen to retain him, and he is now focusing on rebuilding and improving for the 2025 season.
Ex-Florida State and Georgia EDGE Marvin Jones Jr. is expected to transfer to Oklahoma, @chris_hummer and I have learned for @cbssports/@247sports.
The former five-star recruit had four sacks for FSU this season and had ranked as one of the top available players in the portal.… pic.twitter.com/pYbu6TIVHm
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 6, 2025
One significant step in this direction is the addition of Marvin Jones Jr., a highly regarded EDGE player who has entered the program through the transfer portal. Jones spent the 2024 season with the Florida State Seminoles, where he made notable contributions, including 25 tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble. Before his stint at Florida State, Jones played two seasons (2022 and 2023) with the Georgia Bulldogs, amassing 16 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble.
As a high school recruit, Jones was a standout talent. Ranked as a five-star prospect by 247Sports, he was the No. 2 EDGE rusher and the 21st overall player in the country. His arrival in Oklahoma could significantly bolster the Sooners’ defense, which ranked 29th in points allowed per game (21.5) and 19th in total yards surrendered per game (318.2) during the 2024 season.
Jones’ presence is particularly vital as Oklahoma has seen several defensive players depart through the transfer portal. These include cornerbacks Makari Vickers and Kani Walker, as well as linebacker Lewis Carter—all three-star recruits. The addition of Jones is expected to strengthen the defensive unit and help the Sooners address some of their recent shortcomings on that side of the ball.
With Venables looking to turn things around, securing players like Jones through the transfer portal is a critical step in laying the foundation for a more competitive season in 2025.