Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables will handle defensive playcalling responsibilities for the Sooners in 2025, he announced in a statement Saturday, assuming full control of the program’s defense for the first time since took over in late 2021.

Oklahoma has spent more than a month searching for its next defensive coordinator since former playcaller Zac Alley left for the same role at West Virginia on Dec. 29 after one season with the Sooners.

Venables’ announcement came as Oklahoma introduced a pair of defensive assistants Saturday — former Arkansas State defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling and former Clemson defensive playcaller Wes Goodwin.

“I have reflected on all facets of our program over the past several weeks,” Venables, entering his fourth season at Oklahoma, said in a statement. “Since I was hired as head coach, we have carefully assembled the defensive personnel and scheme that is suited to compete at the highest level, and we’ve built a deep and talented roster ready for the moment. I have high expectations for our program and will do everything in my power to achieve our goals for our players. To that end, I will take over defensive playcalling responsibilities for the 2025 season.”

Drieling, who will coach inside linebackers, was hired at Arkansas State last month after spending one season at Utah State, where he served as defensive coordinator and interim head coach last fall, leading the Aggies to a 4-8 finish after replacing Blake Anderson. Goodwin replaced Venables as Clemson’s defensive coordinator in 2022 and spent three seasons leading the Tigers defense before his firing following the 2025 campaign.

The pair of defensive minds follow first-year offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle as the latest additions to Venables’ staff this offseason.

“Adding Nate and Wes to our team, with their extensive and diverse experience, simply adds to my expectations and excitement for our defensive unit,” Venables said. “I’m energized by the prospect of getting back into playcalling and for the continued momentum I see us gaining with the strategic moves we’re making on both sides of the ball.”

A three-time national champion coordinator, Venables’ decision to return to playcalling marks the latest evolution in his approach since taking over the Sooners. Former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof served as the program’s playcaller for the 2022 and 2023 seasons before Venables turned to Alley, 31, in 2024.

Oklahoma finished 19th nationally and fifth across the SEC in total defense (318.2 yards per game) this past season.

TCU wide receiver Jack Bech was selected MVP of the Senior Bowl on Saturday, catching the winning touchdown pass a month after his brother died in the pickup truck attack in New Orleans.

On fourth-and-goal late in the final quarter, Bech caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan to give the American Team a 22-19 win over the National Team in Mobile, Alabama.

Bech’s older brother, Tiger, was a former All-Ivy League kick returner for Princeton and was among those killed in the terror attack in New Orleans’ French Quarter district on New Year’s Day.

Bech wore his brother’s No. 7 during Saturday’s game, and the clinching touchdown came with seven seconds remaining.

“Man, it’s simple: My brother has some wings on me,” Bech told NFL Network. “He gave them to me, and he let that all take place. My Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. Tiger. Nothing else but them. They’re the reason I did what I did today. I attribute it all to them.”

Bech had 62 catches for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns last season for TCU.

The week leading up to Saturday’s all-star game and the Senior Bowl itself represented opportunities for Bech to showcase his talents ahead of April’s NFL draft.

“It’s been surreal just to be able to come and take place in this game,” he said. “It’s a goal that you set for yourself. But if I had the option that if I came here, had the worst week ever, ruined my draft stock and that means I could give my brother a hug right now, you know I would take that.

“On the flip side, I don’t think I could have had the week I had if all that didn’t happen.”

Bech had six receptions for 68 yards in the game. He joins Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert and Daniel Jones as past Senior Bowl MVPs.

Four-star safety Zech Fort, ESPN’s No. 39 overall in ESPN Junior 300, committed to Georgia on Thursday, landing as the top-ranked member in the Bulldogs’ 2026 recruiting class.

Fort ranks as ESPN’s No. 5 safety in the 2026 cycle. Originally from Bellflower, California, Fort is a multiyear captain at Florida’s IMG Academy, where he completed his junior season this past fall. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound defender picked Georgia over Alabama, Notre Dame and Ohio State, with Florida and Florida State rounding out the top six Fort announced earlier this month.

Fort built tight relationships with Bulldogs assistants Travaris Robinson and Donte Williams, and took multiple trips to Georgia throughout his recruiting process. His most recent visit to the school came late last fall during the Bulldogs’ 31-17 win over Tennessee on Nov. 16.

Fort is now the highest ranked of five prospects pledged to coach Kirby Smart’s 2026 class. He follows wide receiver Vance Spafford (No. 83 overall) and in-state cornerback Jontavious Wyman (No. 127) as the Bulldogs’ third ESPN Junior 300 commit in the cycle. Georgia also holds 2026 pledges from three-star tight end Lincoln Keyes and junior college defensive tackle Seven Cloud, who will not join the program until after next season.

Georgia remains involved in the recruitment of five-star 2026 quarterback Jared Curtis (No. 4 in ESPN Junior 300) after he pulled his commitment from the program last fall. Four-star running back Derrek Cooper (No. 18 overall) was another high-profile exit from the program’s 2026 class last year.

Fort’s commitment continues a pipeline from the IMG Academy to Georgia under Smart. If he signs with the Bulldogs later this year, Fort will be the 11th IMG Academy graduate to join the program since the 2021 recruiting cycle, headlined most recently by four-star 2025 signee Dominick Bailey and five-star prospect Ellis Robinson IV in the 2024 class.

Georgia holds signatures from 15 ESPN 300 prospects in its 2025 class, which ranks No. 2 in ESPN’s latest class rankings ahead of national signing day on Feb. 5.