Brent Venables Praises South Carolina Ahead of SEC Showdown in Columbia
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables offered plenty of respect for South Carolina as his team prepares for Saturday’s SEC matchup at Williams-Brice Stadium. Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Venables described Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks as a complete and physical team built around one of the nation’s most exciting quarterbacks.
“Got a big one on the road,” Venables said. “Really, kind of our first true road test when it comes to handling a different type of environment. Pretty much what you see in the SEC week in and week out. Going to Columbia and playing Coach (Shane) Beamer’s team — they’re 3-3 right now, they’re dang good, is what I would say.”
Respect for the Gamecocks’ Competitiveness
Venables credited South Carolina for battling against top-ranked competition like Missouri and LSU.
“They rushed for over 200 yards at LSU… it’s a 17-10 game all the way till just the last couple of possessions,” he noted, praising the Gamecocks for how “they’ve done a really good job staying competitive in every game this season.”
A Dangerous Defense
When asked about South Carolina’s defense, Venables pointed to their playmaking ability and knack for creating momentum-changing turnovers.
“They’ve got an NCAA-leading six non-offensive touchdowns — three defensive touchdowns and three punt returns for touchdowns,” he said. “They’ve been really aggressive in what they do. They’ve got great length and strength in their front seven.”
Venables also applauded defensive coordinator Clayton White for his work in reshaping the unit.
“Coach White’s been there for a good while now, and he’s really done a nice job. I know exactly what it looked like when he got there, and what he’s been able to build has been pretty remarkable.”
He made sure to recognize the Gamecocks’ explosive special teams weapon, Vicari Swain, saying, “They got a DB, number four, (Vicari) Swain. Man, he’s lightning in a bottle and really aggressive.”
On LaNorris Sellers
Venables had high praise for South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, calling him “one of the toughest players to defend in the country.”
“He’s really hard to tackle… it’s hard to get two or three guys to get him down, let alone one,” Venables said. He also highlighted Sellers’ arm strength, speed, and dual-threat versatility, describing him as a “special kind of playmaker.”
The Oklahoma coach also acknowledged the offensive weapons surrounding Sellers. “Now you got all these freaks out here — (Nyck) Harbor and Vandrevius (Jacobs)… they’ve done a really good job of putting good players around him.”
Pressure from the Gamecock Defense
Venables specifically mentioned Dylan Stewart and Bryan Thomas Jr. as edge rushers who could test the Sooners’ protection schemes. He described both as explosive and powerful, capable of creating pressure off the edge and disrupting offensive rhythm.
Oklahoma’s Focus After Texas Loss
Following their loss to Texas, Venables emphasized that Oklahoma’s focus is on execution and consistency.
“We need to play really efficiently… take care of the football… can’t have any lapses,” he said. “That’s been a staple of who we are for decades, and for whatever reason, [turnovers] just aren’t coming like we need them to come this year.”
Despite the setback, Venables said the Sooners remain united and confident. “This is a team that’s talented and they’re tough-minded, they believe, and they’re together. When you put believing and being together, it’s a very powerful thing.”
The Sooners and Gamecocks will face off at 12:45 p.m. ET on Saturday, airing live on SEC Network.
