For the last three seasons, OU has had week-to-week captains. The logic from head coach Brent Venables of being a leader can change during the months of a season.
Who you are in August might not be who you are or who the team needs you to be in November and December.
But Team 131 is bringing about a change. OU announced seven Team Captains for the season Saturday morning.
QB John Mateer
C Troy Everett
DE R Mason Thomas
DT Gracen Halton
DT Damonic Williams
LB Kip Lewis
S Robert Spears-Jennings
Defense feels like it should be, after all, the strength for OU in 2025. Five of the seven captains are from that side of the ball.
A nice blend of four-year guys like Thomas, Halton, Lewis, Spears-Jennings to go with transfer additions in Mateer, Everett and Williams.
Leadership quoteboard
“I love John. John’s awesome. He’s a guy that you, not that you don’t want to play for anybody, but you better step up. This is a guy that’s a big-time quarterback like we’ve had around here. You don’t want to be the dudes, whatever position it is, to let people down. That’s how it should be anywhere but when you have a guy like that with the charisma, the swagger, the confidence, the way he plays, you want to step up for him.” – offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh on Mateer
“I know with him, this being his last year, he really took that next step of really taking it over. So I think he’s done a great job of that, really calling up the young guys. Marcus Wimberly, Man man (Omarion Robinson), he’s done a great job of leading us all and teaching us everything. For sure.” – safety Michael Boganowski on Spears-Jennings
“Kip has done an amazing job of growing into that role. From last year, he had a great year and coming into this year as a leader, he’s done a great job of stepping into that role, being more vocal. Helping us guys that haven’t played as much and fit that role that we really need to fit.” – linebacker Sammy Omosigho on Lewis
“I’m thrilled for him, all summer, like all he did was he was out front and leading from the front. When the war’s going on and you’re on the front lines, that’s where the leaders are, and that’s what he was out here doing with Schmidty in the hot weather all summer. And in the spring, he did the same thing. And he got outside of his comfort zone. That’s what it takes. You gotta be vulnerable in moments where you’re probably used to not saying nothin’ and just doing the best you can and being a leader by example. Alright, now you put a little more emphasis on it when you use your voice. And when you’re doing it like he’s done it all year, it holds weight, and your teammates will follow you. And he’s worthy to follow.” – defensive tackles coach Todd Bates on Williams
OU, after all, kicks off its season 5 p.m. next Saturday against Illinois State.