OU football coach Brent Venables previews Sooners' Week 3 game against Nebraska

NORMAN — Brent Venables held his weekly press conference Tuesday ahead of Saturday's game at Nebraska (11 a.m., Fox).

Here's some highlights of what Venables had to say in previewing the matchup with the Cornhuskers and recap last week's win over Kent State:

OU football team expects offensive linemen to return vs. Nebraska

Venables said he expected Wanya Morris, Key Lawrence, and Robert Congel to be available Saturday after missing last week's game against Kent State.

Morris has missed each of the first two games for off-the-field reasons but is expected to slide back in at right tackle after Tyler Guyton had started in his place the first two games. Guyton started at left tackle in the opener, with Anton Harrison sliding to the right side. Against Kent State, Harrison and Guyton switched.

Venables said Morris has spent the last three weeks working with the scout team since it became apparent he wasn't going to be cleared for the opener, though has rotated in when OU has gone "good on good" in practice.

"He's gotten some better work in," Venables said.

Venables also said freshman wide receiver Nic Anderson would likely make his OU debut against the Cornhuskers.

"As long as he doesn't have any setbacks during the week," Venables said.

Anderson is the brother of former Sooners standout Rodney Anderson.

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OU football coach Brent Venables talks about Nebraska quarterback Casey Thompson

Venables said he tried to recruit Casey Thompson to the Sooners in the offseason after Thompson entered the transfer portal from Texas.

Thompson ultimately chose to transfer to Nebraska instead.

Thompson's father, Charles, was a standout quarterback for the Sooners. Casey was a high school standout at Southmoore and Newcastle before signing with the Longhorns.

Venables said he's mainly been looking at Thompson's film from this season at Nebraska vs. reviewing what he did at Texas in prior years.

➤ Venables said the Sooners couldn't take Nebraska lightly, even as the Cornhuskers have started 1-2, costing Scott Frost his job.

"This is a team that's incredibly capable, talented, tough," Venables said. "We expect their best. We expect a great atmosphere."

➤ Venables talked of the way tight end Daniel Parker has embraced his role with the Sooners and learning from Brayden Willis, even

"He's been a leader since he's been here," Venables said. "And I guess he hadn't been a leader his whole career. ... So that's cool too to find out about transformation."

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➤ Venables on wide receiver Marvin Mims, who had seven catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns vs. Kent State:

"He epitomizes what you want the OU football player to look like," Mims said. "You want your best players to be your best leaders. ... He's meek but he's strong. He's somebody that's got a great presence to him.

"Everything he does he autographs his work with excellence."

➤ Venables grew up in Salina, Kansas, about three hours from Lincoln, Nebraska.

"I never thought of myself as good enough like that," Venables said. "I was right. I wasn't good enough at K-State either, but I found my place."

Venables said he grew up admiring the Cornhuskers, especially legendary coach Tom Osborne.

"One of the classiest coaches to ever represent the game," Venables said.

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➤ Venables said he's not too familiar with Nebraska interim head coach Mickey Joseph, who spent time as an assistant coach at UCO and was the head coach at Langston in 2011-12 after three seasons as an assistant there.

"He's got a great reputation in the profession," Venables said. "Doing the right things as a recruiter. .... I know he's very well thought of on and off the field."

➤ Venables got emotional talking about the Sooners' 31-14 win over top-ranked Nebraska in 2000.

The win wrapped up OU's "Red October" stretch of victories over No. 11 Texas, No. 2 Kansas State and the Cornhuskers.

"They tore down the goal posts in Norman, Oklahoma, which we all know they don't do," Venables said. "I'm ashamed I wasn't celebrating. .... I'm ashamed because I didn't take any opportunity to soak it in."

Instead, Venables said he immediately turned his attention to preparing for Baylor, but his drive home was slowed by fans celebrating the OU victory.

The Sooners didn't have a problem with Baylor the next week, blowing them out 56-7.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU vs. Nebraska football: Brent Venables talks Sooners vs. Cornhuskers