Report: Oklahoma Staffer Headed to SMU as Assistant AD and GM

One of the Sooners' primary recruiting staffer will head to SMU in an elevated role, according to a Monday morning report.

According a report from Matt Zenitz of 247Sports, Oklahoma Director of Player Personnel & Recruiting J.R. Sandlin is headed to SMU as an Assistant Athletic Director and General Manager.

SMU is expected to hire Oklahoma’s J.R. Sandlin as an assistant AD and general manager, sources tell @247sports.

Was a key behind-the-scenes piece for Brent Venables as OU improved from 6-7 in 2022 to a 10-2 regular season record in 2023.https://t.co/dJORJ80Uo5 pic.twitter.com/IFQ8ybclDD

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) February 19, 2024

Sandlin came to Norman with Brent Venables in Dec. 2021, spending time at Jacksonville State, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Alabama. Sandlin played tight end at UCF in college and has also been a high school coach since his playing career ended.

During Sandlin and Venables' time at OU, the Sooners were able to bring in the No. 5 recruiting class in 2023 and No. 8 in 2024. As the Director of Player Personnel & Recruiting, Sandlin was a key piece of Oklahoma's recruiting efforts behind the scenes. 

While no official announcement has been made, it appears Venables and company will need to fill another support staff role this offseason. With former Director of On-Campus Recruiting Lee Davis departing for UCF earlier this year, the Sooners' are reportedly set to hire Jolie Ale to fill the same role.

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