There is some skepticism surrounding Oklahoma’s decision to bring in tight end Carson Kent from Kennesaw State, given the struggles of both Kent’s former team and the Sooners’ own offense. Kent, who committed to Oklahoma on Monday, is the first tight end added to the Sooners’ roster by tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley, following the transfer of Bauer Sharp to LSU and Jake Roberts exhausting his eligibility.
While Oklahoma had its own offensive issues this past season, Kennesaw State’s struggles were even more pronounced. The Owls ranked second-to-last in the FBS in total offense, averaging only 250.9 yards per game, far behind Oklahoma’s 322.5 yards per game. Despite the team’s offensive woes, Kent stood out as a bright spot, ranking third on his team with 18 receptions, 217 yards, and three touchdowns in the 2023 season, playing one less game than others.
Kent, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound redshirt sophomore with two years of eligibility remaining, started eight games in his redshirt freshman season at Kennesaw State. His size and potential make him an intriguing addition to the Sooners’ tight end group, although it remains to be seen how he will fit into the new offensive scheme under offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle.
Kent’s transition to Oklahoma coincides with significant changes in the coaching staff. Finley, who was previously promoted to co-offensive coordinator, no longer has the same level of influence over the offense after Brent Venables hired Arbuckle as the new offensive coordinator. The Sooners struggled with the passing game under Finley’s leadership, particularly with deep passes, and the team often relied on tight ends to ease the burden on a young quarterback.
With a new offensive system in place and a hopefully improved receiving corps, Kent may not be as heavily involved in the offense as some of the other tight ends. Despite this, Kent’s past production could set him up for a stronger season in a more functional offense. It’s important not to judge his success purely based on his previous stats, as the circumstances around his numbers at Kennesaw State were far from ideal. Kent’s size and skill set could allow him to significantly outperform Sharp’s numbers from this past season, contributing more to the Sooners’ offense going forward.
