Miguel Chavis is proving he's ready if Brent Venables ever hands over Oklahoma's defense

On the eve of the Oklahoma Sooners starting fall camp, Brent Venables was asked about the importance of defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis, who has been with the head coach since 2017 and his entire five-tenure at OU. Venables, who also doubles as the defensive coordinator, started ranting about Chavis while listing quality after quality that makes Chavis maybe the most underrated asset behind the Sooners' success.

"Yeah, I mean, all of my assistants -- it takes all of us, certainly -- but Miguel's awesome," Venables said. "He's incredibly bright. He's got tremendous energy. He's very passionate about people. He's passionate about his opportunity. He's got a sense of humility to him. He shows up every day willing to learn and get better and grow. But he also has a unique perspective and experience where he can help other people grow as well. He's well-received, well-liked. He knows how to turn it up on somebody when he needs to, from an accountability standpoint, a toughness standpoint.

"He's just high level in every area of what you want in somebody on your staff and in your locker room -- just a quality husband, father, leader, motivator, mentor. Loves the strategy of the game. He's really smart and bright, got a great, great future. But he's been incredibly impactful in his space and overall, us as a defense."

Read more: Predicting Oklahoma's 2026 depth chart heading into fall camp

2027 defensive line recruit Uhila Wolfgramm shared a video on X during the summer of Chavis, still wearing his Nike tennis shoes, with a bucket of slop to feed the pigs on Wolfgramm's family farm. It was during one of multiple trips Chavis made to Utah while trying to get Wolfgramm to Norman, and although Wolfgramm ultimately chose to play in his home state at BYU, it was the epitome of both what kind of guy Chavis is and also what lengths he's willing to go for the Sooners to succeed.

Venables saw something early in Chavis when he hired him in 2017 to join Clemson's staff in a player development role for his first coaching job in college football. Chavis was a former Clemson player, and after a brief pro career between the NFL and UFL and attending seminary, he pursued coaching and returned to his alma mater, where Venables was DC.

In 2021, he followed Venables to Oklahoma as Venables made Chavis the Sooners' defensive ends coach. That move has helped Venables transform the Sooners' defense to become one of the best in all of college football, especially in 2025, when Oklahoma led the FBS with 3.46 sacks a game, largely thanks to Chavis' unit.

Sooners' transformed defense wouldn't be possible without Miguel Chavis

The trick to the Sooners' dangerous pass rush is a depth of talent that Chavis has made possible with his abilities to both recruit and develop. Venables likes to rotate constantly off the edge, and Chavis always has the next guy up ready to go.

In 2025, Chavis' position group was one of the most talented in the country. It was the perfect example of what Chavis can create between having second-round draft pick R Mason Thomas and Taylor Wein, who was a three-star recruit that has evolved into an All-SEC honoree while leading OU in sacks last season.

That successful campaign and College Football Playoff appearance led Chavis to a well-earned raise over the offseason and a now $1 million salary. And he's worth every penny as the million-dollar defensive ends coach.

But that likely won't be the only promotion in Chavis' coaching future. What prompted the question during Venables' press conference was Chavis' desire to one day be a defensive coordinator and lead his own defense. At 37 years old and a glowing resume, that could be coming soon for him.

There's no doubt the OU defense reached a new level with Venables taking control last year, but if there's ever a time he's ready to hand over the reigns to focus on head-coaching duties, there would be no better successor for a flawless transition than Chavis.

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