Former Oklahoma Sooners tight end Jaren Kanak had an interesting career in Norman. Kanak was a four-star recruit who followed Brent Venables to Norman after being committed to the Clemson Tigers ahead of the 2022 season.
Kanak had never played linebacker before, but Venables thought his freakish athletic ability would make him ideal for the position. He showed flashes, especially as a sophomore, racking up 62 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks, starting multiple games for the Sooners. However, things just never fully clicked for him at linebacker, so he switched to tight end before his final season last year.
Despite being undersized, he had a strong year, catching 44 passes and finishing with 533 yards, which ranked third on the team. That led to his being selected in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
Kanak was hoping to make the team and be a contributor in his first season in the NFL; however, he received some unfortunate news. ESPN reporter Turron Davenport, who covers the Titans, revealed that Kanak will miss the 2026 season with a torn pectoral muscle.
#Titans Jaylen Harrell (ACL) and Jaren Kanak (torn pect) are done for the season.
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) August 15, 2026
Kanak's Oklahoma career ultimately became a story of adaptation. He wasn't able to fully establish himself at linebacker, but rather than letting that derail his career, he embraced the move to tight end and quickly became one of the Sooners' more productive offensive weapons.
That late development earned him a shot in the NFL, and now the Titans will have to wait to see what Kanak can become. For a player who has already overcome one major position change to reach the NFL, Kanak's latest challenge will be another test. The goal now is simply to get healthy and make sure his NFL opportunity is still waiting for him when he returns.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Former Oklahoma TE Jaren Kanak receives unfortunate news