Sooners Meet with Local Media Ahead of Fall Camp

NORMAN — In preparation for the start of preseason camp on Wednesday, Oklahoma Football players and coaches met with the local media Tuesday morning for over two hours to preview fall camp and the 2026 season. Press conferences with head coach Brent Venables and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle can be watched on the SoonerSports.com Watch Page and YouTube, while quotes from select offensive and defensive assistant coaches and players from both sides of the ball can be read below.

See highlights from the day below and via Oklahoma Sooners on YouTube.

ELITE weigh-in ?? officially go time pic.twitter.com/olTex90Zpz
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) August 5, 2026

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Gallery: (8-4-2026) Fall Camp Media Availability

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Head Coach Brent Venables

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On pressure the team may face this season after the success of last year:

"The pressure doesn't come from anywhere but internally that you create for yourself, based on the expectations and what you value. The pressure is never bigger than what it is internally. I think that should drive you. That pressure is part of your culture and your mentality that should be a shared belief system. We should all feel that every single year. If you're comfortable, you're going to get beat. Period. Comfort is something that we have to resist. It's hard to win. That's not a fancy cliche. It's the truth. We know the margins are small. If they were small last year, they're smaller than they've ever been. That's the facts.

"I like pressure. Pressure is a good thing, when used the right way. We need to be at our best. When the fire gets hot, that's when we should be at our best."

On John Mateer's maturation this offseason:

"Maturity, understanding the gravity of being the quarterback of the University of Oklahoma. I think he's probably in a more peaceful place when it comes to that and understanding the different levels of it. We've talked about it for several weeks, and really post-spring, the maturity he's taken to the offseason. That's looking at ways to improve in all of the different ways. So that's mentally understanding what they want to do as an offense and some of the responsibilities within the confines of the offense, whether it's reads or leading and certainly understanding defensive structure as well. Really trying to peel that onion back to the core. Then looking at the fundamental standpoint, building his body, being a great teammate and developing really good relationships. Much different place than where he was a year ago.

"He's very natural from a relationship standpoint. He doesn't have to try to be a dude. He is. Really proud of the work he's put into the offseason. Everybody has followed his lead."

Offensive Coordinator Ben Arbuckle

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On the biggest difference he has seen from this team compared to last year:

"I think the team this year is really hungry. We've got people at every spot that can compete at a really high level. We've got good competitive depth. It's a younger team this year and there's not as many older guys but the younger guys have done a great job of stepping up and everyone's hungry to build on last year and have a better year."

On how the offensive line is progressing toward this season:

"I don't know if I'm any more proud of a certain position group on our offense than I am of the offensive line. Just their consistency, their work ethic, their hunger to attack knowledge. It's been incredible to see. It's a lot cooler whenever Michael Fasusi isn't a true freshman anymore. He has all these different experiences, been through the ringer, gotten beat, had some great victories - all that's out of the way now. You can see it out there in his play and in his confidence. He's just one example of a whole unit of guys that you see coming back and really attacking the mindset and physicality of what we want to be on offense. And a lot of times leading from the front on the mindset and the standards of what we want to be on offense. I couldn't be prouder of that group."

Wide Receiver Isaiah Sategna III

On returning to OU for one more season:

"I feel like I had more to give. I feel like my time in Norman wasn't done and I had some more to show y'all. I don't feel like I showed the world everything that I can do last year and I have more to give."

On the biggest improvement he has seen from John Mateer in the summer:

"How he responds when something doesn't go his way is the biggest thing I've seen from him. It's football, not everything is going to go your way, so whenever that happens, what are you going to do, how are you going to respond. The growth I've seen from him has been really good."

Defensive Tackle Jayden Jackson

On fellow defensive lineman David Stone:

"The most special thing about him is that he's never satisfied. He's always been hungry and he's the same person every single day. It's a lot of things you don't see off the field, like the way he wants to pour into his community as well. That's a great thing to see. Just seeing him grow as a person has been amazing. That's my brother."

Tight End Hayden Hansen

On SEC competition and adjusting to Oklahoma:

"This is the NFL. In college football, the SEC is the NFL. I feel like I've been at OU for five years. I love it here."

Defensive Ends Coach Miguel Chavis

On expectations at Oklahoma:

"This is Oklahoma … it consumes me every day to win a national championship at Oklahoma and I think that's the standard."

Running Backs Coach Deland McCullough

On Lloyd Avant taking a leadership role:

"(Lloyd)'s very natural from a relationship standpoint. He doesn't have to try to be a dude, he is and I'm really proud of all of the work he's put into the offseason. Everyone's followed his lead. I've got incredible respect and appreciation for his athletic ability but his best qualities, in my opinion, are the human being he is and the leader that he is."

Sooners Meet with Local Media Ahead of Fall Camp

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