Why Baker Mayfield Loves Oklahoma's Move to the SEC, Believes in Brent Venables
NORMAN — Oklahoma will be successful because coach Brent Venables is an "unbelievable guy" who "knows how to lead."
Those are the sentiments of maybe the most popular and publicly influential former player the school has, and Baker Mayfield is confident the Sooners are on the way back after a rough 2022.
The OU football legend returned to his roots on Friday morning for his fourth annual youth football camp, and afterward spent several minutes taking questions from the media.
He gave Venables a strong vote of confidence as the coach heads into his second season.
"Everybody hit the panic button a little," Mayfield said. "With how much change there was and turnover, it’s hard to have success. I think he did great in year one with all the change. There are only great things to come. He’s an unbelievable guy. Not just a coach, he’s an unbelievable man. He knows how to lead. This program is always going to be great, especially with him running it."
Aside from drills, water breaks, brief games and races, Mayfield spoke to the press for more than five minutes on a number of topics. Specifically, the Buccaneers quarterback discussed his relationship with current OU QB Dillon Gabriel.
"Dillon is a great guy. Just the leadership qualities and what he’s about, he has a great head on his shoulders," Mayfield said when asked if he had spoken to Gabriel or Jackson Arnold. "Competition brings out the best in everybody. Everybody is always waiting for the next thing. Jackson is going to be a stud, no doubt about that. There was a lot of turnover and change last year and thought Dillon handled it completely the right way."
Mayfield also discussed the Sooners' move to the SEC, saying that he felt the decision was in Oklahoma's best interest.
"I’m excited about it. I think it was kind of inevitable about the fact that it’s going to turn into four super conferences," Mayfield told reporters. "I think it’s the best move for OU to go to the SEC. Obviously, it will be a learning curve. I think recruiting-wise and everything else, I think it will help out in the long run. Especially with how competitive Coach Venables. It will help us. We’ll get some big boys up front and on the defensive line. It will definitely help us."
Mayfield also gave offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby a vote of confidence.
"He's a good dude. He's a competitor," Mayfield said. "He knows how to turn it on... Just a normal guy that's brilliant at what he does... He is an OU guy at heart, don't let him tell you otherwise."
Mayfield said it just felt good to be back and hosting another camp in his college town.
"I love it," he said. "Say it every year, but I think I have more fun than the kids do. Fourth year to be able to do this, so very fortunate to be able to come back and play on the same intramural fields that I did when I first transferred in. I love doing it, love being able to give back and see the same faces every year. It just really is a blessing to be able to come back here.
"I played one intramural football game here, on this field right here. Played receiver the whole time, and I got to throw one pass and then got banned from playing intramural sports. No, it was just fun. Looking back at that, it was the good old days of just playing ball, no politics, no BS, nothing else. Just playing football and enjoying the game."
Children received shirts and were able to learn about the game from a host of knowledgeable coaches while getting to spend time and interact with Mayfield, the star of the show. In total, over 250 kids attended the camp, with parents lined up to get a view of their child being thrown a pass from the Heisman winner.
After winning the Heisman Trophy at OU in 2017, Mayfield was selected No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and has since spent time with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams. This offseason, the Lake Travis (TX) product signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Now he said he's enjoying the chance to give back.
"It’s always good to come back here," he said. "It’s good to hit the reset button and come back home. I love it here. Got to see my college roommate last night, but didn’t see my other one, my walk-on buddy, Jaxon Uhles. But it’s always great to come back here. It’s a fresh start."
Mayfield also discuessed the dominance of OU's softball team, singing high praises for Patty Gasso while wearing a shirt that read "Gasso = GOAT".
"This one was custom made. Got it made before my Heisman Trophy unveiling last year," Mayfield said. "Went out to the softball game and had it under my jersey. She was not happy when she saw it. She is the GOAT, though. That softball team, their run was unbelievable. She runs the show. She’s the best."
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