Oklahoma Sooners tight end coach Jason Witten is getting his first chance at calling plays at the collegiate level. Witten was named interim offensive coordinator after the Sooners parted ways with Ben Arbuckle on Monday.
The legendary former Dallas Cowboys tight end spent five seasons coaching high school football in the Dallas area. He also called plays during his tenure there that saw him take one of the worst programs to two state championships. But calling plays in the SEC is very different from calling plays at the high school level.
Still, former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops likes this move by Brent Venables.
"You're talking about not just a new voice, but a strong, powerful voice," Stoops said. "A voice that has experience, has won at the
highest level... You don't spend 17, 18 years in the NFL and not garner a lot of knowledge. There's a lot of knowledge that's going to sink into you. I believe he has that... I can see the passion he has for it, and I like that."
Witten's experience at the highest level of football gives Oklahoma a valuable resource as it looks to get its offense back on track. His time in the NFL, combined with his success building a high school program, gives him a unique perspective to bring to the role. Now, he has an opportunity to translate that experience into results on one of college football's biggest stages.
The challenge begins against the Florida Gators, where the Sooners will need to show signs of progress under their new play caller. Witten doesn't have to reinvent everything overnight, but finding ways to get John Mateer and the offense playing with confidence would be an important first step. If his leadership and energy can provide the spark Oklahoma has been missing, this change could give the Sooners a foundation to build on for the rest of the season.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Bob Stoops raves about Jason Witten's knowledge heading into Saturday
