OU cornerback Eli Bowen sidelined to begin fall camp

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables announced that standout cornerback Eli Bowen will miss the start of fall camp due to a leg injury suffered in the offseason. Bowen started the final seven games of 2024.

“He won’t be available to start camp,” Venables said. Venables highlighted Eli Bowen’s quick rise in 2024, noting, “He doesn’t make his first start till maybe four or five games into the season... every time he gets in, makes plays, plays big, and the moment isn’t too big for him.”

With Bowen sidelined, Kendel Dolby is expected to see time at cornerback. “Will Dolby play something out there at corner too? Yeah, absolutely,” Venables said. “He's got great versatility.”

With Bowen sidelined, Kendel Dolby is an option at cornerback. “Will Dolby play something out there at corner too? Yeah, absolutely. He’s got great versatility,” Venables said, referencing his experience at the position in junior college and earlier at OU.

Venables praised Gentry Williams for his leadership while battling injuries: “He’s worked so incredibly hard. A lot of times when guys have been banged as much as he has... you feel like a man without a country. That couldn’t be further from the truth.”

“He just doesn’t give up and quit and give in to a lot of setbacks,” Venables added. “People see the toughness that he shows up with, the love that he has for his teammates. He celebrates their success.”

Venables also noted progress from Jacobe Johnson, saying he “really started to grow and become a good corner” last season.

'Doing what is required is never enough:' 5 takeaways from Brent Venables’ camp press conference

5 takeaways from Ben Arbuckle’s fall camp press conference