When the game-winning kick sailed through the uprights in the Oklahoma Sooners’ overtime loss to Texas Tech, the biggest offseason priority was plain to see. Brent Venables and the Oklahoma staff needed to address the defense.
After looking strong to start the season against UTEP, Kent State, and Nebraska, the Sooners struggled for nearly the entirety of Big 12 play. One of the major culprits was the Sooners’ pass rush. Linebacker depth was also an issue.
One player that will have an impact on improving Oklahoma’s defense is incoming Indiana transfer Dasan McCullough. McCullough, who played on the edge for the Hoosiers, could also factor into the Sooners’ cheetah competition to replace DaShaun White.
Coming off a strong true freshman season for the Hoosiers, the incredibly athletic McCullough was named to ESPN’s true freshman All-American team by Tom VanHaaren.
McCullough was the highest-ranked recruit to sign with Indiana since the ESPN 300 was formed in 2006 at No. 43 overall. He played in 12 games this season for the Hoosiers and had 49 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks along with three quarterback hurries. He transferred to Oklahoma after the season finished and will try to improve a Sooners defense that allowed 29.6 points and 450.5 yards per game in 2022. – VanHaaren, ESPN
At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, McCullough has the size to be a terror for offensive tackles as a pass rusher. A former high school safety, McCullough has experience in coverage and will be a piece that Brent Venables can either use as a linebacker or drop into coverage at Cheetah. The possibilities are endless.
With a strong freshman season to build on, McCullough is an important addition via the transfer portal and will have a huge impact for the Oklahoma Sooners.
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