Former Oklahoma Sooners fan favorite stands up for Jaren Kanak on social media after bad rep at the Shrine Bowl

The Sooners are going to miss both Jaren Kanak and Danny Stutsman.

Adam Holt, Justin Churchill
Add as preferred source on Google
Oklahoma Sooners tight end Jaren Kanak linebacker Danny Stutsman shrine bowl
Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma Sooners transitioned Jaren Kanak, who previously played linebacker, to tight end this past season. He excelled early, quickly becoming one of the best tight ends in the country. However, as the season progressed, his involvement in the offense diminished.

But Kanak is one of the players who embodies what it means to be a Sooner. A four-year player at OU, he could have been an elite tight end if he’d played the position for all four years. His ability to catch the ball and gain extra yards was impressive. One area that held him and the tight end room back was blocking on the edge, which contributed to the offense’s struggles.

Kanak’s struggles with blocking were highlighted at the East-West Shrine Bowl when he lost a 1-on-1 rep against an edge rusher, even becoming a joke on Twitter. His former teammate and now New Orleans Saints linebacker, Danny Stutsman, defended him.

“You don’t run a 10.38 to block,” Stutsman wrote on Twitter under the video of Kanak.

Stutsman is right. But for a run game, tight ends must block. Kanak excels as a pass-catcher, not a blocker. Using him only on pass plays would tip off defenses, forcing the Sooners into a tough spot. Given his size, he might have been better suited as a big receiver. Shifting focus, Kanak is now preparing for the next chapter as he eyes the NFL, while Stutsman continues to make his mark at the professional level.

Now, after finishing his last season at tight end, Kanak hopes for an NFL opportunity. Meanwhile, his former Oklahoma teammate Stutsman is already making an impact and could start in 2026. Adam Holt of A to Z Sports New Orleans broke down Stutsman’s rookie year.

Stutsman is off to a hot start in his NFL career

Fans wanted to see more of Stutsman early in the season. He brought energy and made an impact on special teams, tallying 53 tackles as a rookie for New Orleans. He played every game but did not start.

The former OU standout had a knack for a big hit in his first season in black and gold, too. On multiple occasions, he blew up a running play in the backfield or attacked downhill on a check-down completion. Either way, he was consistently playing with aggression and effort. No surprise for Sooner fans there.

Playing for Brandon Staley also seems like a nice match for Stutsman. The linebacker position for him often has less to worry about in the passing game due to the versatility of whoever is playing nickel back. For the Saints this year, that was often Alontae Taylor, who played in an assortment of spots and even blitzed at times.

Not to mention, there were times when Saints linebackers were used to pressure the quarterback while an EDGE dropped into shallow coverage to give the opposing offensive line a surprising look. Stutsman could succeed in pressuring the QB on these types of plays if given more reps in 2026. Really intrigued to see what he can do if given more opportunities for New Orleans as a second-year contributor.

Related Articles