Kendal Daniels' emergence helped the Sooners get one last home game
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The Oklahoma Sooners didn’t make many transfer portal additions on the defensive side of the ball this past offseason, instead choosing to spend those portal resources on offense and special teams. However, head coach Brent Venables and his staff have gotten great results out of the few defensive players they did bring in.
One of those players is redshirt senior Kendal Daniels, who plays the Cheetah position for the Sooners. After a long collegiate career at Oklahoma State, Daniels has thrived in the unique linebacker-defensive back role that’s become a Venables staple.
Daniels redshirted in 2021 in Stillwater, before appearing in every game for the Cowboys from 2022 to 2024, and he started in 28 of them. The local product from Beggs, Oklahoma was a part of some highs and some lows at OSU, but after a 3-9 season in 2024, he decided to look elsewhere. At times with the Cowboys, his effort was questioned, and he was seen as a bit of a hybrid player without a true position, but the Sooners took a chance on him for his final college season.
Daniels was expected to compete with Kendel Dolby to be the starting Cheetah, but the OSU transfer has proved to be a perfect fit in the role for this defense. He’s big enough to offer run support, while also being good enough in coverage to stay with pass targets from the opposing offense.
The Sooners have been excellent at Cheetah this season, despite Dolby appearing in just four games, and playing a couple of other positions. On Wednesday, he announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal when it opens on January 2nd, becoming one of the first two portal entries from the 2025 Oklahoma roster. Wide receiver Jayden Gibson, who has not been with the team since October, is the other.
Even with Dolby, an expected starter before the season, not in the lineup, Cheetah has been a big strength for OU’s defense, thanks in large part to Daniels. He’s also been a great example for Reggie Powers III, who is in line to take over that position next season after Daniels graduates. Powers has also been stellar in his role for this defense, and he has seen up close what Cheetah is supposed to look like from Daniels. The sophomore will be a key cog in Venables’ defense in 2026.
Before that though, Daniels will get to make one more start in his home state on Friday night against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first round of the 2025 College Football Playoff. He expressed his excitement to get to have one last ride in Oklahoma, in a huge game for the program.
“It’s going to be real special now,” Daniels said earlier this week. “It’s the playoffs … It means a lot. I’m trying to take it all in. This is the last game I’ll play in Oklahoma, so being able to have family and everybody come to the games has been such a blessing.”
Daniels has been a big piece of an excellent Sooner defense in 2025, registering 49 total tackles and 3 passes defended. He’s brought a stability to the Cheetah role, rewarding the OU staff for taking a chance on him in the portal, just like he took a chance on them.
As that OU defense looks to continue their great play and lead the way for the Sooners to advance in the CFP, Daniels is confident in what Oklahoma is capable of.
“I try not to think about it so much, that it will be my last Oklahoma game, but it what it is,” Daniels said. “And, you know, we still have three more games after that.”
Kickoff in Round 1 of the CFP between the Sooners and the Crimson Tide is set for 7:00 p.m. CT on Friday in Norman. The game will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: The addition of Kendal Daniels has been a good one for the Sooners
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