After reports last night had him staying with Oklahoma while previous rumors linked him to Kansas State or West Virginia, Brent Venables is actually headed completely outside of the Big 12 -- to take the defensive coordinator job offered to him at Clemson.
Amazingly, it was previously reported just hours before that reporters were wrong when saying he would take the Clemson job.
"According to multiple reports on Twitter Wednesday evening, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables was all set to become Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables," writes Tom Fornelli. "He had interviewed for the position last weekend, and after a few days of speculation, it seems a decision had finally been made. It was, it's just that many people caught wind of the wrong decision."
In heading to Clemson, Venables, the former OU defensive coordinator, takes over for Kevin Steele. Clemson is one of the top schools in the ACC and finished the season ranked No. 15 in the country. They ended the year on a sour note, however, giving up 70 points to West Virginia in a memorable Orange Bowl loss. Head coach Dabo Swinney spoke highly of Steele's work in his departure.
"I want to thank Kevin Steele for his significant contributions to our program over the last three years," said Swinney. "He has had a huge impact on Clemson football. Our players have learned countless lessons from him on and off the field.
"Although we were inconsistent at times with a young defense this year, overall we have been one of the best defenses in the country the last three years under his direction. I thank him for his hard work and dedication to our program and wish him nothing but the best."
Venables has a nice young unit to work with on defense and, in the easier competition of the ACC, could find himself as a hot head coaching candidate with a year or two of a conference-leading defense.