The Oklahoma Sooners' offense will be led by legendary former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten for at least the remainder of the season. Witten joined the staff this offseason as tight ends coach, but was promoted to interim offensive coordinator after Ben Arbuckle was let go on Monday.
Witten coached at the high school level for five years after retiring from the NFL. He served as the head coach and was also responsible for calling the offensive plays. During his five seasons, his team averaged over 40 points per game and scored 50 or 60 points in several games, with a remarkable high of 85 points in 2023.
Head coach Brent Venables explained why he chose him as the interim play caller.
"He's over exceeded our expectations," Venables said.
"Just from a leadership, a cohesion, the improvement that he's helped us make at the tight end position. He's got incredible wealth of knowledge. His communication skills are elite. He's built trust and real relationships with our entire staff and our players... He makes people better."
Venables also said Witten could be the long-term answer at offensive coordinator.
"Nothing is off the table," Venables said.
Venables' comments make it clear that Witten's opportunity could extend beyond the final four games of the season. While his NFL playing career and high school coaching success provide an impressive résumé, calling plays against SEC defenses will be an entirely different challenge. How quickly he can establish his approach and get the momst out of Oklahoma's offensive personnel will be a major part of his evaluation.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables believes Jason Witten is ready for his new role
