Two Oklahoma football assistant coaches receive massive extensions.

Running backs coach, and Oklahoma football legend, DeMarco Murray and defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis received contract extentions late Sunday afternoon. Both assistants received an additional year on their deals with a significant raise in their salary.

Coach Murray's new deal extends through 2027 and his total compensation increases to over $2.52-million. Coach Chavis' deal runs through 2027 as well and puts his total compensation amount at $2.17-million. SEC sized raises for SEC-caliber position coaches.

Murray and Chavis are excellent position coaches, no doubt. But extensions like these are reserved for top-tier recruiters, and both of these men are definitely that. Murray and Chavis are hot commodities on the college football market and they'd receive offers of this size if they were free agents. There is a recruiting industry belief that Chavis in particular is one of the most influential recruiters in the nation. There is also a belief that DeMarco is only a few years away from being named an offensive coordinator somewhere in the country.

What's interesting to think about is the talent in the coaches' offices in Norman. These two young coaches recieved extensions, which were well-earned, but they aren't even the best recruiters or position coaches on staff.

Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh is widely considered to be the best offensive line coach in the nation. Defensive tackles coach Todd Bates, like Murray and Chavis, is also widely-reveared for his ability to recruit. Finally, wide receivers coach Emmett Jones is arguably the best high school football recruiter in the nation. I would imagine that the Emmett Jones eventual contract extension will set the market for position coaches across the country, maybe even in the NFL.

Following the ChampU Bar-B-Q this weekend, I thought that the best pickup for the Sooners would be a player. I did not think the biggest news of the weekend would be the extensions of Murray and Chavis but thats precisely what it is. This is a further commitment by the University, and coach Venables, of an aggressive approach for entering the Southeast Conference next week. It is a great day for the program and an even better day for Coach Murray and Coach Chavis. Congratulations to both them and their families.