SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 16, 2025

Robert Spears-Jennings

Oklahoma Sooners

Press Conference

Q. How was it last year for the new conference for your school?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: I feel like the new -- the conference last year was a good learning experience for everybody. I feel like everybody had a great time, a lot of learning curves for us. Now we're ready to attack year two.

Q. It's not like you guys weren't playing in the big-time anyway, but did you get a lot of questions about it being a new conference and what the experiences were?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: I got a couple of questions like that today. And the experiences were great -- new environments, new teams, new faces. I felt that was a great experience for everybody.

Q. What stood out to you about this defense? How has it improved since last year, and how have you taken a leadership role on it?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: I feel like we've communicated way better this year because we were taught a quiet defense is a dead defense. So this year we're emphasizing on communication on defense a lot.

Q. Obviously you're on the other side of the ball, but what are your first impressions of John Mateer and what's it like to be around him?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: John is a great guy, competitive guy, confident guy. Makes a lot of throws that other average quarterbacks can't make. He's a great guy to be around.

Q. A lot was made this offseason about Brent taking over the column defensively. Just knowing his history with Clemson a little bit, what does that give you confidence, and just what's the interaction been like since you made that move?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: Coach V is one of the greatest defensive coaches ever. I have all faith and trust in him because he's going to confuse a lot of offensive coordinators and quarterbacks because you never know what you're going to get from him, never know what you're going to run that week. That's what I love about Coach Venables.

Q. Could you elaborate a little bit.

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: Coach V, one week we might be in a whole different game-scheme formations. Then the next week, you can't really watch our last week's game because we're probably not going to even come out in that formation or the fronts at all.

Q. What were your impressions of going to Tiger Stadium and playing LSU for the first time and hosting them this year? I don't think LSU has played at Oklahoma before.

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: That's probably the biggest stadium I've ever been in. Great environment. Great fans. And can't wait for them to come to down.

Got a couple of my friends, they transferred to LSU. Been talking to Nic, Bauer a couple of days out of the week. It will be a great match-up.

Q. Obviously one of the bigger wins you had last season was that Alabama game. Now you're headed to Tuscaloosa this year. How big of a win was that for just the morale of that program heading into this year? And are you excited to play at Bryant-Denny Stadium?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: It was a great win. I feel like it was our senior night, we needed to let our seniors out with a bang. That's a memory they'll remember for the rest of their lives. They can tell their kids when they have their kids.

And just going to Alabama, I mean the program speaks for itself. The stadium, always dreamed of playing there. So playing there is going to be a great time.

Q. For you in practice, how much harder has it got facing the offense? Is it more challenging facing this Oklahoma offense than it was before last season?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: It's definitely more challenging because they bring energy. I feel like with Arbuckle and John, they brung a different type of swag with them.

They bring, I feel like our whole offense has embodied their swag and their energy because once they score a touchdown their whole side is over there running celebrating with the guys.

And that's what you need, you need energy. I feel like these guys here love playing football.

Q. You mentioned talking with Nic Anderson, some of the other players that have transferred. In this day and age, when there's a lot more movement during the four or five years you're in the school, what's that like for -- is it hard, especially when they transfer in conference to maintain that friendship or is it just like old times?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: I think it could be both. I think for me, it's like old times because you love them without football, but you just met them through football, I feel like. I feel like that's my dog for life, that's my best friend. Just because he transferred I have no animosity towards him. I love him like he's my brother.

Q. Could you describe what Nic Anderson and Bauer Sharp are like as teammates and what is LSU getting in those two guys?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: I feel LSU is getting two great guys. Bauer is a vocal guy, he's a very vocal leader, great personality, comes to work every day head down, have great time, makes practice fun.

Nic, same way, great guy, loves playing football. You could tell he loves playing football just the way he comes to practice. He just makes jokes, but when it's time to be about his business, he's about his business as well.

Q. You could be in the unusual situation early on of facing a guy who was playing quarterback for Oklahoma last year in Jackson Arnold when he comes to town with Auburn. What's that like, the idea -- first of all, what's your relationship with Jackson and what kind of player is Auburn getting in Jackson Arnold -- but also the fact you could be opposing a former teammate?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: Jackson's a great guy on and off the field. He has a lot of confidence. Makes a lot of throws.

He was young, I feel like this year it's just his time to really shine. I feel like he has a great staff around him. I feel he's going to have a great time at Auburn.

Him coming back to Norman, he's going to try to -- redemption game, I should say. He's going to have a great time. We're waiting for him to come. Just going to have fun.

Q. Oklahoma lost a lot defensively from last year. Has your role changed? Have you had to be more of a leader to replace some of the guys who have departed?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: Coach V, Coach Hall, Coach Schmidty, they've all advised me to be more vocal. This summer, this spring and this winter, I've tried my hardest, done my best at being a more vocal leader and just leading by example. Me and a couple of other guys have been doing that job very well.

Q. You just mentioned about Jackson coming back but I know there may not be any animosity, friendship-wise, things like that. But you had kind of a twinkle in your eye when you said you have plans when he comes back. When you're facing a former teammate like that, is there some underlying kind of "let's show him what he's missing," or is that ever a part of it?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: No, I don't feel that. We're just coming here to play football. We all have dreams of making it to the next level. I feel we'll all go out there, play the game we love.

Q. We all talk about rivalries. What's the one you guys have with Texas, how does that feel?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: That's rivalry is probably the biggest rivalry in college football, I feel like, because it's the only rivalry that you're at a neutral site every year same weekend. One team will have at the 50-yard line burnt orange and the other one is crimson red, I feel that's probably the hardest thing.

Q. When you're an old man, is that the one that you're going to think about the most?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: Definitely. I'm going to miss that game, for sure.

Q. SEC fans will get their first look at Jake Knott this fall. He's been playing at Cal the couple years before transferring in to Oklahoma. Your initial impressions of the new running back.

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: Great guy on and off the field. Has great hands. Elusive. He can catch the ball, can run good routes and has a good little burst to him.

Q. For people who have never been to your stadium before, how would you describe a game there and the whole experience?

ROBERT SPEARS-JENNINGS: From the walk-in champions to the end of the game, I feel it's a great experience, especially a night game. Fireworks going off after touchdowns. The RUF/NEKS shooting their guns.

I feel it's a great time. Fans are loud and we're close to the stadium so you hear everything. It will be a great time to be there.