The Oklahoma Sooners’ linebacker depth was a problem in 2022. Their starting trio of Danny Stutsman, DaShaun White and David Ugwoegbu each played more than 900 snaps a year ago.
Brent Venables talked about that depth at Big 12 media days and how it affected the team late in games and later in the season.
“We started the year pretty strong, and then we didn’t finish the year very well, particularly in, again, those fourth quarters of a bunch of games. We just didn’t have any juice left about the middle of the year on. The competitive depth will lead to better competitive stamina.”
Venables and his coaching staff weren’t shy in their pursuit of “competitive depth” this offseason. In addition to the progression of players coming back, the Sooners made sure to add some experience at linebacker as well. One of the players that will help in a big way in 2023 is Ferris State linebacker transfer Konnor Near.
Near played four seasons at Ferris State and was a big part of two national championship-winning teams at the Division II level. That experience helps provide security for a team that doesn’t have much experience beyond Stutsman.
“My fear at linebacker is that we’ve got one linebacker that’s ever started a college football game,” Venables said at Big 12 media days. “Really wanted to bring the right person, the right individual, the right player that fit our culture, our playing style. You know, that brought experience. I wasn’t just going to bring in an experienced guy. I wanted a guy that can line up and play winning football for us.
“Konnor is a guy that’s going to bring instincts, toughness, physicality. He’s gonna be able to lead a defense. He’s going to be able to communicate. He’s going to be able to perform under pressure. He knows right from wrong. He understands standards. He understands a locker room. He understands leadership. He understands tough coaching.”
There’s understandable excitement about the future at the position with Kobie McKinzie, Kip Lewis, Jaren Kanak, Samuel Omosigho, Lewis Carter and Phil Picciotti. But there’s also very little experience with that group.
So the addition of Near gives the Sooners some experience to create a solid floor for the linebacker group while their deep group of linebackers begins to get playing time as either a first-time starter or a rotation player.
The Sooners did a great job adding impact players in the transfer portal, especially on defense with Dasan McCullough, Rondell Bothroyd and Reggie Pearson. Adding Near also gives the Sooners a dynamic player at linebacker.
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