At this point, can we really see Brent Venables coming back to Oklahoma as co-defensive coordinator?

Since arriving in Norman and assuming his role as DC, Venables had never interviewed for a similar position at another school. He, of course, went through the interview process for a head coaching job, which is his ultimate goal in the profession. But since working on the staff of Bob Stoops with the Sooners, he had never publicly considered another defensive coordinator gig.

So the fact that he pondered an offer from West Virginia after leading the Sooners' defense since 2004 and is thinking about making the move to Clemson shows that he isn't content with the new situation in Norman, where former Arizona head coach Mike Stoops was brought aboard once again to replace Willie Martinez. Stoops will be co-DC and help with the team's woes in the secondary, and he very likely will wrest defensive play-calling duties away from Venables.

While he reportedly weighs whether to take over for Kevin Steele at Clemson, the report Monday night that Kansas State defensive coordinator Chris Cosh could be on his way to South Florida could change the game for Venables once again.

For a long time, many believed that Venables would be the heir apparent to Bill Snyder at Kansas State, the alma mater of the Sooners' co-DC. Could the Wildcats bring him aboard and allow the 72-year-old Snyder to walk away in a year or two? After all, Snyder has rebuilt the program for a second time after reaching the 10-win mark this past season. Venables, who served as linebackers coach at K-State from 1993-98, has nothing more to accomplish on the assistant level. Why not a return to Manhattan?

No one quite knows the challenges of winning at Kansas State like Snyder. However, Venables is the one coach in the college game who has the best chance of at least replicating that success in Manhattan once Snyder decides to walk away once again.

But if the Wildcats don't want to lose out on a good thing, they have to act fast. After all, Venables is a wanted man.

Email dave.miller@nationalfootballpost.com or follow me on Twitter at Miller_Dave