Jake Kreul had a record-setting performance to discuss. He wanted to talk about the loss.
That tension is worth remembering as Oklahoma’s freshman defensive end collects the recognition his Kentucky performance deserved. Kreul was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday after finishing with six tackles, three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
The sack total set an Oklahoma true freshman record. It also gave the Sooners a fresh example of what their young edge rusher can become.
Kreul’s own evaluation started somewhere else.
“I mean yeah, it’s awesome. Personal stats are cool and everything but the main goal is to go 1-0 and we didn’t do that. So we’ve just got to get back to work on Monday and keep on driving and working the little things.”
Oklahoma lost 21–13. A freshman who helped give the Sooners another chance late in the fourth quarter understood that his individual achievement could not change the result.
The encouraging part for OU is what happened before the sacks — and how Kreul approaches what comes after them.
The work ahead of the work
Defensive tackles coach Todd Bates sees a player whose preparation has moved faster than the schedule.
Bates said Kreul wanted to learn beyond the plays being installed, studying the defense ahead of time. His explanation of the breakout was less about a freshman suddenly discovering something and more about a young player earning the ability to use what he had been learning.
Bates also pushed back on the idea that Kreul’s contribution begins and ends with chasing quarterbacks.
“Well, he’s a real student of the game. He’s up here as much as the coaches are,” Bates said.
That diversity matters a lot for the Sooners to keep playing the freshman edge rusher. An edge defender who can only help in obvious passing situations gives a defense a more limited set of options. Learning the run responsibilities, recognizing what an offense is trying to create and doing the less visible parts of the job help a young player become useful across more situations.
Kreul described that development through the people around him.
“I think it’s just the guys around me. Obviously, we have an amazing scheme that puts me in great positions. But I’ve learned so much from, not only Coach Chavis, but the guys that are surrounding me like Danny Okoye, PJ Adebawore, Taylor Wein. They pour so much into me and we’re constantly feeding off each other. Constantly competing with each other. And I think having that brotherhood makes improving a lot easier.”
Position coach Miguel Chavis supplies the instruction. The older players supply examples, competition and corrections. Kreul’s description suggests he is using all three.
Head coach Brent Venables pointed to the same foundation after the game.
“Just his readiness. He’s been practicing well. He’s incredibly eager and focused, puts a lot of work in, and tonight he just had his opportunity.”
Three sack plays brought a breakout day for freshman edge
Kreul affected three Kentucky plays that ended in sacks. Officially, he received credit for two solo sacks and a shared sack with Kip Lewis, producing the 2.5 total.
The timing made the production particularly valuable. A third-quarter sack helped force a punt. In the fourth quarter, Kreul dropped Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey on fourth down at the OU 5, giving the Sooners possession with another opportunity to get back into the game.
Those were meaningful stops in a game that remained within reach.
They also showed why the next step should be discussed carefully. One afternoon can reveal ability without completing a player’s development. Kreul himself identified work that remained unfinished.
“I just think it’s the fundamentals. Everything comes back to the fundamentals,” the freshman edge rusher said after his huge night. “There’s so many small details that we worked out in practice this week that I messed up today that there’s no reason for me to mess it up. So just get back to the drawing board and keep working.”
That is a useful response to a breakout. The sacks belong on the film. So do the snaps he wants back.
The teammate who made the run game harder
Kreul gave particular credit to offensive tackle Michael Fasusi, whose value to his development went beyond pass-protection reps.
“Fasusi’s an animal. He has made me so much better, especially in the run game, because I don’t think there’s a better run blocker than that dude.”
Which speaks to what the Sooners are missing on the OL right now, and how big Fasusi’s return would be. But I digress…
Kreul’s praise was a teammate’s assessment, and an emphatic one. It also supplied a practical explanation for Bates’ point: a young defensive end learns to play the run by facing somebody who makes that task difficult.
Kreul said he sees Fasusi working to return to the field and wants him back for both the offense and the competition he provides. He also acknowledged that the process cannot be rushed.
For Kreul, that practice relationship is part of the larger development story. The people he competes against are helping him as much as the people who line up beside him.
Taylor Wein believes the quality that ties it together is Kreul’s ability to process instruction.
“I think the Lord and his parents gave him a great athleticism, and he can bend really well. But I think his most special characteristic is his mindset and his brain. Super smart, super intelligent and has a killer mindset,” Wein said the fast-rising freshman edge rusher. “And he’s super — he understands when he goes wrong and where he goes wrong and he adjusts. It’s not about the mistake; it’s about the adjustment and how do you correct that. So that’s what makes him special.”
That is more specific than calling a freshman talented. Wein is describing a player who can recognize a problem and change the next rep.
The award gives Kreul something tangible to show for his preparation. Oklahoma needs that preparation to keep producing, especially as the season asks more of its depth.
Kreul’s immediate response offered no indication that he viewed Kentucky as a finished product. He spoke about teammates, fundamentals and the work waiting on Monday.
The SEC recognized what he accomplished. Kreul was already looking at what he still needed to fix.
