The Oklahoma defensive tackle room is seemingly struggling. That is, if one college football analyst is to be believed.
Ian Boyd of Inside Texas shared his thoughts following the analysis of legendary OU linebacker Teddy Lehman and ex-Sooners offensive lineman Gabe Ikard on Oklahoma’s 2023 squad.
Boyd had the following to say about the Sooners’ diminutive interior defensive linemen.
OU has been taking flyers on DTs from places like Tulane and Texas State… If you look at their recruiting at DT in 2022 and 2023, there’s nothing on the horizon coming to save them. It generally takes a while to build true anchors and even then you need guys with big frames. They’re in a world of hurt.
Boyd is spot on in his analysis here. The lack of playmaking can extend to edge rusher as well with players like Ethan Downs lacking the physical ability to wreak havoc on the opposing quarterback. Downs, like Oklahoma cornerback Woodi Washington, is a good football player without a good positional fit.
With regard to how they match up with Texas, certainly the Longhorns will have to bring their best game in October. Nevertheless, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has to feel good about his team’s prospects against Oklahoma this season offensively.
These have been great, listened to a bunch today.
Some of their observations have lead me to be even more bearish on Oklahoma this season. https://t.co/xSzOZZxgRn
— Unsolicited special assistant to the head coach (@Ian_A_Boyd) April 13, 2023