Breakout superstar defender proof in the pudding of Brent Venables’ elite coaching, recruiting ability as head coach of the Sooners
The breakout performance that saved Oklahoma’s season against Alabama is another notch on Brent Venables’ belt as an elite coach
During the week of the East-West Shrine Bowl back in January leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, former Oklahoma Sooners defensive end Ethan Downs told me that “Taylor Wein would be next”. That statement surprised me in a room that already featured R Mason Thomas as well as elite recruits in PJ Adebawore and Danny Okoye, and added Marvin Jones Jr out of the transfer portal. “Trust me.” was all Downs said.
Turns out, I should have listened. Wein has been the biggest surprise breakout star of Venables’ tenure as head coach of the Sooners, and it’s safe to say that the Sooners would not be where they are, fresh off of a monumental upset over the Alabama Crimson Tide at 8-2, without Wein and what he has brought to the team this season.
On Saturday, Wein made the two biggest plays of the game, blocking a field goal (Oklahoma won by two points) just before halftime, and strip sacking Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson to set up the Sooners’ game-winning field goal. Wein’s development is a testament to just how good Brent Venables is as both a recruiter and developer of talent, and it’s time for the rest of the world to take notice.
From Zero to Hero, Taylor Wein’s story is the success of the Sooners
Taylor Wein was a virtual nobody as a recruit. A three-star defensive end from Tennessee in the class of 2023, Wein held zero power four offers for most of his entire recruiting cycle, earning interest mainly from MAC programs like Buffalo, Ohio, and Ball State. However, a month from Early Signing Day, the Sooners found him and offered him.
And just like that, the floodgates opened up. USC offered him right after the Sooners. Ole Miss followed a day later, then teams like Missouri, Cincinnati, and Oklahoma State. These offers didn’t matter though. Wein knew he wanted to be a Sooner, and committed just two weeks after receiving his offer from Oklahoma.
Nobody expected much from Wein. Indeed, he was overshadowed all of last year by the conversations surrounding players like PJ Adebawore and Danny Okoye. Even in the offseason, the addition of Marvin Jones Jr seemed like the room was far too crowded for Wein to make any sort of impact.
However, in the offseason, defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis could not stop effusing his praise for Wein’s ability and work ethic, calling him “an assistant edge coach” and that “there’s not a guy that lives in our building as much as Wein”.
This season, Wein is delivering on that praise in ways I don’t think anyone expected. Wein leads the team in pressures and is tied with Gracen Halton for second in sacks on the team. He leads the defensive end room in run stops with 13, and he’s made clutch plays in every game of Oklahoma’s season.
Against the Crimson Tide, Wein stepped up and delivered when the Sooners needed him most. Down R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma needed someone to harass Ty Simpson and deliver splash plays to disrupt his rhythm. Wein did just that, and his impact as a playmaker is a testament to this staff’s ability to identify and develop the right type of talents that this team needs.
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