Oklahoma Sooners senior inside linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] has officially been named a consensus All-American as selected by the NCAA.
To be selected, a player must be a first-team honoree by at least two of the following five All-America teams: American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Associated Press (AP), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Sporting News, and Walter Camp Foundation.
Stutsman received first- or second-team All-America recognition from each of the five selectors recognized by the NCAA. He was named a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation and the AFCA last week and was listed on the All-America second teams by the AP, FWAA and Sporting News this week. He was also a finalist for the Butkus Award and was a first-team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches and media.
It’s been four remarkable years of growth, effort, and leadership from Stutsman in Norman, one of the players who decided to stick around for head coach [autotag]Brent Veanbles[/autotag] when Lincoln Riley and Alex Grinch left for Southern California. He improved each year, eventually becoming one of the best players in the country in his final season of college football.
Stutsman became OU’s 83rd consensus All-American and was the first selection wide receiver CeeDee Lamb earned the honor in 2019. Stutsman is also the first Sooners linebacker to receive consensus All-American honors Curtis Lofton in 2007. He’s the ninth linebacker in school history to be named a consensus All-American (four players received the honor twice, so OU has garnered a total of 13 honors).
Oklahoma ranks sixth nationally among FBS programs with 83 all-time consensus All-Americans, and OU’s 81 consensus All-Americans since 1950 lead the nation. Since 2000, OU has produced 31 consensus All-Americans, tied for second with Ohio State behind Alabama.
Stutsman started all 12 games at middle linebacker this season and ranked fourth in the SEC and 24th nationally with his team-high 109 total tackles. He also ranked fourth in the SEC and 22nd nationally, averaging 9.1 tackles per game. He has added 8.0 tackles for loss, one sack and three QB hurries to his ledger this season.
The senior played in 47 career games for the Sooners and started each of his last 37. He totaled 376 career tackles to rank ninth in Oklahoma history. He is tied for fifth among OU inside linebackers with his 36.0 career tackles for loss. He also recorded 8.0 career sacks and three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. With 109 tackles in 2024, Stutsman registered triple-digit tackles in three consecutive seasons.
His final performance on Owen Field may have been his best. Stutsman willed his team to a shocking upset victory against Alabama, shutting down QB Jalen Milroe with a relentless defensive performance.
Stutsman won’t play in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces bowl next week when Oklahoma takes on Navy, as he is preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft. However, his time in Norman certainly won’t soon be forgotten.
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