The Football Brainiacs

Noteworthy Numbers

2019-2023 – Drake Stoops

2008-2012 – Landry Jones

2008-2010 – Austin Box

2003-2006 – Paul Thompson

1998-2002 – Curtis Fagan

1990-1993 – Cale Gundy

Player Profile

Position: Tight End

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 233

Class: Senior

Seasons at OU: 3

Hometown: Hays, Kan.

Previous School: Hays HS

The Path to Norman

Jaren Kanak, a highly-ranked recruit out of Kansas, was an athlete wanted by the top programs in the country. He visited Norman the summer before his signing day, but nothing seemed to come out of it. In December, when the new coaching staff arrived in Norman, Kanak and OU revisited. He had committed to Clemson, where Brent Venables had been the DC. Coach Venables had already committed to not going after Clemson 2022 recruits and stuck to his word. However, Kanak so badly wanted to play for Coach Venables that he went to Coach Swinney and explained the situation, who then contacted Coach Venables and encouraged him to allow the athlete to join the Sooners. Kanak flipped to OU and became a member of the 2022 class.

#BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/4YYutjtDTr

— Jaren Kanak (@KanakJaren) January 6, 2022

Career so Far

Kanak played in every game during his freshman season. He initially played at the CHEETAH spot, but was mostly at inside linebacker and special teams the rest of the season. While he was still learning the defense, he showed plenty of promise in 2022, particularly in the Nebraska game.

In his sophomore season, Kanak once again played in all 13 games, starting in nine of them. He played a lot of snaps, finishing fourth on the team in tackles, but struggled at the tail end of the season and transitioning to a backup role over the final four games.

2024 saw Kanak play in all 13 games once again, although in more of a reserve role that in seasons past.

Stats

Years: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | Career

Games Played: 13 | 13 | 13 | 39

Tackles: 17 | 62 | 24 | 103

TFL: 0 | 6 | 1 | 7

Sacks: 0 | 2 | 0 | 2

FF: 0 | 1 | 1 | 2

FR: 1 | 0 | 1 | 2

PBU: 0 | 2 | 0 | 2

Stats via Soonersports.com

This Season

Kanak made the switch from linebacker to tight end over the offseason. The TE room has been a mystery for some time and doesn’t have a plethora of options this fall, but Kanak seems to have a legit shot at starting at the spot. Transfers Will Huggins and Carson Kent will compete at the spot, along with Kaden Helms and Kanak. In year four on campus, but year one at TE, Kanak looks set to be a regular presence on the field once again.