Oklahoma’s defensive strength in 2025 may be judged more by the players who chose to stay rather than those who arrived via the transfer portal. On Friday, the Sooners received positive news when Kendel Dolby declared his intention to return to Norman for his senior season.
Pain is my fuel🧘🏾♂️ run it back ! pic.twitter.com/nIQ2sFlXyT
— KD (@kd_937) January 3, 2025
Dolby shared his news on Twitter/X Friday afternoon.
A senior from Springfield, OH, Dolby joined the Sooners in December 2022 as a junior college transfer from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. He played in all 13 games in 2023, but his appearances were limited to just three games in 2024 due to a serious ankle dislocation and fracture suffered during the SEC opener against Tennessee. At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Dolby started as a slot cornerback at OU but gradually transitioned to a more significant role as Brent Venables’ “cheetah” linebacker, where his aggressive playing style and sharp instincts were effectively utilized. In 2023, he earned three starts and was working his way into the starting lineup this season until his injury. He logged 36 snaps against Temple and 54 against Houston but did not play against Tulane.
During the Week 4 loss to Tennessee, he managed only 17 snaps before getting hurt near the goal line. For the year, he recorded 10 tackles, one sack, one quarterback hurry, and one defended pass. “My heart breaks for him,” Venables commented following Dolby’s injury. “He’ll be fine, he’ll recover, and he’ll continue to have the opportunity to play this game for a long time. I’ve been praising him for months, and it’s just unfortunate that this is part of the game.” In his junior season, Dolby totaled 49 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, and four passes defended. Dolby’s return follows announcements from defensive tackle Damonic Williams, linebacker Kip Lewis, safety Robert Spears-Jennings, and defensive end R.
Mason Thomas regarding their return to OU in 2024. Although Thomas’ return was initially shared by OU’s NIL collective and quickly deleted, it’s widely expected he will confirm it on his own social media soon.
This returning group, along with expected returns from middle linebacker Kobie McKinzie, cheetah linebacker Sammy Omosigho, safety Peyton Bowen, cornerback Eli Bowen, defensive tackle Jayden Jackson, cornerback Jacobe Johnson, linebacker Jaren Kanak, and defensive linemen David Stone and P.J. Adebawore, provides Venables and his new defensive coordinator with a solid, experienced foundation to develop the Sooner defense in 2025 and beyond.
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