Part of it was the starter he was replacing decided to come back after CS committed

Posted on August 19, 2026 at 10:08:44 AM by Rich (edited August 19, 2026 at 10:09:18 AM)

but yeah. Sullivan wasn't great yet but you'd expect improvement. Maybe he will end up playing a lot.

The sad thing is that he left for the same or maybe less money. Venables recruited him hard; he was the first guy OU went after on the day the portal opened. He was in Norman on that day, a Saturday. Venables also flew up to his house a couple days later. Sullivan's parents and advisors tried to get him to think of the long term benefits of Michigan. But in the final analysis, I think he got won over by feeling wanted at OU and not at Michigan by the new staff.

The other sad thing is that LB is our weakest roster spot.

Back to the board

Thread:

Cole Sullivan left and isn’t even going to start for Oklahoma. Brutal.* - By WOK August 19, 2026 at 09:48:02 AM
- I see their starting center is out for a while* - By ameriKa August 19, 2026 at 10:43:15 AM
- Says who? You have a link?* - By MasterBates August 19, 2026 at 10:38:58 AM
  - They are returning two starters and while Sullivan has been “mvp of fall camp” sounds like he’s still going to be in rotation behind them. Per 247 podcast.* - By WOK August 19, 2026 at 11:06:06 AM
    - He will get plenty of snaps, probably as many as the starters. Your post is misleading, he's doing well.* - By MasterBates August 19, 2026 at 12:18:41 PM
- Really surprising. I thought he had star written all over him* - By Paul August 19, 2026 at 10:02:42 AM
  - yeah he looked like a future star and I was bummed when he left* - By DoctorD August 19, 2026 at 10:21:47 AM
  - He couldn’t execute some of the very basics in pass coverage last year. He was one of our lowest graded PFF players. Huge potential but not much on field yet* - By harbaughdyssey August 19, 2026 at 10:11:32 AM
    - He seems to have the physical tools, but maybe just isn’t football smart… - By Craig August 19, 2026 at 10:20:26 AM
    - He made a lot of big plays last year, but he was up and down. Rolder ended up our best LB, and unfortunately gave up his 5th year - By Rich August 19, 2026 at 10:13:46 AM
  - Part of it was the starter he was replacing decided to come back after CS committed - By Rich August 19, 2026 at 10:08:44 AM
    - Oh yeah? Well, I happen to think DT is our weakest roster spot! - By ftb August 19, 2026 at 10:16:30 AM
      - We will see. Ppl seem pretty happy with Pierce and Etta at DT, and the numerous backups but - By Rich August 19, 2026 at 10:20:13 AM

The Victors

Part of it was the starter he was replacing decided to come back after CS committed