One year ago, Kendel Dolby was not one of the four names listed on the depth chart under the Cheetah spot.
Instead, he was in a battle with then-freshman Makari Vickers for who would earn a second string bid at cornerback behind Woodi Washington and Gentry Williams. Playing time was sparse for the junior college transfer through OU’s 2023 non-conference slate, until the fourth week of the season when he began taking reps at Cheetah, a spot he was unfamiliar with.
“It was kind of weird for me. I started off at corner for the first three games, then they put me at Cheetah and I kind of took off from there,” Dolby said. “It felt good to be thrown into a new position and thrive and have the season that I had, but I’m ready to build on that and have a great season this year.”
Cheetah is a hybrid between a safety and linebacker, with seemingly more responsibilities than any other position on the defense due to their need to be able to drop back in pass coverage, rush the quarterback and everything in between.
It’s a position specific to head coach Brent Venables, and has been described by many as the toughest role to fill on his defense. Dolby filled the spot so well last year he earned three starts at Cheetah down the stretch, ultimately growing in his new role with the help of Venables.
“It was hard for me,” Dolby said. “At Cheetah, you’ve got to do a lot. … I feel like BV did a great job of helping me adjust to that position and build on it.”
Junior defensive back Kendel Dolby and OU football head coach Brent Venables during the game against TCU on Nov. 24.
After having a full offseason to prepare for the spot, Dolby earned the starting job and says he feels “way more comfortable at Cheetah.” Venables not only saw his comfortability with the spot increase, but was impressed with the confidence displayed by the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder.
“He has a 6-foot-2, 225-pound vision of himself,” Venables said. “He’s got tremendous fight to him, and is one of the hardest working guys in our locker room. He’s one of the most competitive football players I’ve been around.”
That vision is nothing new for Dolby.
“Since I was a little kid, I’ve never been the biggest guy, strongest guy, fastest guy, but it’s just a mindset,” he said. “Like my dad always told me, you’ve got to have that dog mentality. Not being the biggest, I feel like I have a chip on my shoulder so I go out there like I’m 6-foot-2, 6-foot-4, whatever it is.”
Now, the same mindset that Dolby took into 2023 with him, which ultimately earned him enough playing time to record 49 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions, he sees with many of his defensive teammates down OU’s depth chart.
“This year, y’all know the depth is crazy. We have so much depth. From second string to third string, everyone is ready to go and everyone has that chip on their shoulder. If you’re a third stringer you’re thinking it could be one play and I could be in there. Everyone is willing to work and everyone is willing to make a play.”