Spring football practice is on the horizon for college football programs, and the Oklahoma Sooners are gearing up to begin their first SEC campaign. Unfortunately, Oklahoma saw a substantial loss on the defensive line, as Brent Venables announced on Wednesday.
Venables joined Gabe Ikard and Teddy Lehman on the Oklahoma Breakdown podcast, where he told the two hosts that the Sooners are prepared to be without defensive tackle Jacob Lacey in 2024. He mentioned the possibility of Lacey medically retiring from football due to the injury, but he was unsure.
“He’s one of our best leaders we’ve got,” Venables said on the podcast. “He unfortunately, he’s probably going to have to retire from football with blood clots. That’s a devastating blow for us.”
A transfer from Notre Dame, Lacey provided a big spark for the Sooners defensive line in the 2023 college football season after initially recovering from blood clots. After a second incident, it’s likely time for Lacey to hang the cleats up.
Evidently, Lacey released a message on social media on Thursday.
“I’ve have two pulmonary embolism incidents in less than a year. Both times I was told I am lucky to be alive. The game I love was taken away from me, but I refuse to let it define me. Sooner nation, thank you for everything you have done for me and my family. God has a plan,” Lacey wrote on Twitter on Thursday, confirming the report.
While Lacey won’t be able to play in the 2024 season, he’ll still be able to provide leadership and a locker room presence for the Sooners.
“Really counting on not only his leadership but man, he’s a really good player,” Venables said. “He does all the little things right… He could do all those little things fundamentally and consistently that you’ve got to do to win up front. And so that was a blow.”
This wasn’t the only injury Venables reported, though. He also mentioned cornerback Gentry Williams had a labrum surgery which will hold him out of spring ball.
“Gentry Williams won’t participate in the spring,” Venables said. “He had a labrum surgery, just couldn’t keep that thing healthy during the season. So he won’t unfortunately be participating in spring ball.”
On top of Williams’ surgery, Dasan McCollough underwent a knee scope and hs been unable to participate in winter workouts.
Freshman Phil Piccoti missed his first season after an ACL injury, but he will soon return to the field to begin returning to play.
“Phil Piccoti is coming off an ACL,” Venables said. “He’s still rehabbing and we might get him a little bit in the spring.”
To get a bit of spring action would be huge for Piccoti so he can begin getting close to game shape. The same thing goes for the rest of the team, though, as spring practice will be huge for a program heading into its first season in the SEC. Their spring game is April 20 and will be the Sooners’ chance to show fans what they’ve been building on for the crucial season coming up.
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