Oklahoma defensive lineman Jalen Redmond has officially made his return to the team this week.
After opting out of the 2020 season, it was widely believed that Redmond would make his return to the team in 2021. Lincoln Riley then confirmed that belief in the days after the Sooners’ win in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, also revealing that he had practiced with the team in the lead up to the season finale against Florida.
Riley did tell us he returned during Florida prep:
"Jalen actually came back and practiced with us during the bowl game, on his own accord. We didn’t feel like it was the right thing to let him travel to the bowl game, since he wasn’t with the team the other part of the season"
— Kegan Reneau (@KeganReneau) January 27, 2021
On Wednesday, Redmond tweeted that it “felt good” to be back with his team.
Felt good to be back with my brothers @OU_Football 💪🏾💯
— J-Eazy (@jalen_redmond) January 27, 2021
Redmond’s return is no small fact for Oklahoma in the 2021 season. In 2019, he led the team with 6.5 sacks and ranked third on the squad in tackles for loss with 11. Simply put, he is an impact player.
With the reported return of LaRon Stokes earlier this week, along with Isaiah Thomas and Perrion Winfrey being back next season also, the Sooners’ defensive line continues to look extremely strong going into the spring and new year.
Alex Grinch is going to have the bodies to try and take another step with the Oklahoma defense that was already greatly improved last season, which is pivotal for the Sooners to continue to try and make the move into legitimate players in the national title race.
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