Oklahoma Sooners tight end coach and interim offensive coordinator Jason Witten aced his first test as a play caller at the collegiate level. Witten spent over a decade in the NFL, meaning he got a later start at coaching than others.
He first started as a head coach and play caller at the high school level, before coming to Norman. Witten started the year as the tight ends coach, and his unit completely turned around from the past years under Venables. Rocky Beers and Hayden Hansen have both become crucial pieces for the Sooners' offense. But after Ben Arbuckle's firing, Witten was given another task.
In his first game calling the plays, he helped Oklahoma gain 351 total yards, including 144 on the ground. The offense looked more connected, played
harder, and didn't look as dysfunctional as they had in the past.
Head coach Brent Venables was asked if he thought Witten could be a full-time play caller, and he believes he can.
"Absolutely," Venables said. "We spoke about that in the interview process. That's a goal of his. He got started a little later because he was a savage player. One of the best ever. A Hall of Famer. But he's got all of the right stuff. All of the right qualities."
Venables' confidence in Witten suggests the interim label may not define his future in Oklahoma's offensive coaching staff. His first performance offered an encouraging glimpse of what the offense could look like under his direction, particularly with a more effective ground game and better overall execution. While one game is not enough to establish long-term success, it gave Witten a strong foundation to build on.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables confident Jason Witten can become a full-time OC
