From the unsuspecting eye, the Oklahoma football program harmlessly offered a class of 2026 athletes on Friday. However, those plugged into the college football scene would know the Sooners offered Glassboro, New Jersey, soon-to-be junior Amari Sabb with potentially alternative motives. Sabb is undoubtedly a high-end prospect, holding offers from the Michigan Wolverines, Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, Boston College Eagles, and Ole Miss Rebels. However, his brother, Keon Sabb, once a commit to current OU head coach Brent Venables while with the Clemson Tigers, announces his intent to leave the Michigan Wolverines on Friday and enter the transfer portal. Oklahoma football offered his younger brother Amari on the same day.
Timing of this offer is… notable. https://t.co/hAfAuegpUG
— Parker Thune (@ParkerThune) February 16, 2024
Keon Sabb committed to Clemson in July of 2021. However, the defensive back decommitted from the ACC program a day after defensive coordinator Brent Venables left for the Oklahoma Sooners head coaching gig. The older Sabb signed on to play with the Michigan Wolverines less than a month later.
Oklahoma Football: Eyeing Sabb Brothers
The Sooners offered Amari Sabb, hoping to land his older brother Keon Sabb. Amari, the younger of the two, holds five other high-end DI offers while starring at Glassboro High School in New Jersey. Despite his sophomore status, Amari caught 16 passes for 173 yards and four scores last year while rushing 48 times for 328 yards and five touchdowns. He also had nine tackles and an interception on defense.
Meanwhile, the older Sabb, Keon, played the past two seasons with the Michigan Wolverines. The former four-star prospect appeared in four games as a freshman in 2022. However, he did not register a statistic. Keon became a rotational starter at safety last season for the national championship-winning Wolverines. He started five games in the back end while playing all 14 games. Keon finished the 2023 campaign with 28 tackles, 0.5 sacks, seven passes defended, two picks, and a touchdown. He played well during his team’s title run in the College Football Playoff. He registered seven tackles in two games, including one start and two passes defended.
Brent Venables: Continuing to Improve OU’s Defense
Under Brent Venables’ predecessor, Lincoln Riley, the Oklahoma Sooner struggled on defense, allowing more than 25 points per game in all but one of his five seasons. Venables’ first season with Oklahoma football was a struggle, going 6-7 and losing the Cheez-It-Bowl 35-22 to the Florida State Seminoles. Oklahoma allowed 30.0 points per game, the 32nd-worst average in the country. However, the Sooners and Venables made massive strides in 2023. Oklahoma surrounded only 23.5 points per game, their lowest mark since 2020. Leading the way was defensive standout Danny Stutsman. The linebacker totaled 104 tackles, 16 TFL, three sacks, and a pick. He will return next season to anchor the OU defense.
For More Football News:
Follow me on Twitter at @alec_musa. You can also reach out to me via email at musaalec@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest college and NFL news, click here!
