There is no better cure for a defense than a talented, deep defensive line.
Oklahoma’s depth along the defensive line for 2020 remains a big question mark. How guys like Perrion Winfrey and Joshua Ellison come on out of the junior college ranks and how guys like Marcus Stripling and Jalen Redmond improve is going to make all the difference.
As the Sooners head near the halfway point in 2021 recruiting, Oklahoma still has plenty on the board along the defensive line.
Here is where Oklahoma’s defensive line board stands in May for the 2021 recruiting class.
*The star and position rating is according to Rivals.com.
RUSH LINEBACKER
DALLAS TURNER—4-STAR
The highly touted defender is one where the scheme will determine the position. Rivals and 247 Sports have Dallas Turner at different positions, but at Oklahoma, he’d be a RUSH linebacker and don’t even second guess about it. Pulling Turner out of the southeast part of the country will be tough, but the Sooners have had success at St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida recently.
ETHAN DOWNS—3-STAR—NO. 23 WEAK-SIDE DEFENSIVE END
The lone Oklahoma commit along the defensive line. Ethan Downs camped with the Sooners a summer ago, eventually earning an offer and the in-state prospect went ahead and pulled the trigger.
DEFENSIVE END
MONKELL GOODWINE—4-STAR—NO. 4 DEFENSIVE END
The Delaware-Maryland-Virginia area native is one Oklahoma thought it was moving in a positive direction for. Monkell Goodwine left the Sooners out of his most recent list, but the pull with potential quarterback commitment Caleb Williams could help bring Oklahoma back into the thick of things.
SHEMAR TURNER—4-STAR—NO. 10 DEFENSIVE END
As of late, not many top defensive linemen are coming out of the state of Texas. Shemar Turner is an outlier, and the Dallas-Fort Worth prospect is a can’t-miss type of player. There hasn’t been too much word on Oklahoma’s front with Turner, but a regional talent who is uncommitted like him is going to get a push.
SHAMBRE JACKSON—4-STAR—NO. 13 DEFENSIVE END
One of the more interesting names to make this list. Shambre Jackson isn’t a guy most years Oklahoma is in the running for out of Florida, but Jackson continues to send out positive vibes the Sooners way.
DAVID ABIARA—3-STAR—NO. 21 DEFENSIVE END
David Abiara surprisingly committed to Notre Dame early. Oklahoma was a major player in his recruitment and Abiara could be a player that the Sooners could turn to if something up the line doesn’t go their way.
NATHAN RAWLINS-KIBONGE—3-STAR—NO. 32 DEFENSIVE END
The 6-foot-7 prospect from the northwest is one Oklahoma jumped in the race for early on. Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge is one of those rare body types that is hard to ignore. The Sooners are pushing hard and he would fit in perfectly at the defensive end position in Alex Grinch’s defense.
EMAURION BANKS—3-STAR—NO. 35 DEFENSIVE END
Like David Abiara, Emaurion Banks is a player who committed early (Texas Tech). Oklahoma could turn his way if things fall differently with players higher on the board.
TOBECHI OKOLI—3-STAR—NO. 37 DEFENSIVE END
There is no doubt the evaluation of Tobechi Okoli could go a long way. Oklahoma jumped on board early, and Okoli has been receptive to what the Sooners are selling.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
KELVIN GILLIAM—4-STAR—NO. 9 DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Amongst the biggest recruits Oklahoma has had pushed its way by Williams is Kelvin Gilliam. The athletic defensive tackle from Virginia has been saying nothing but positive about the Sooners in social media and Gilliam is one of the few who have taken place in Oklahoma’s virtual visits.
ISAIAH COE—UNRANKED
Oklahoma has a thing for potential nose tackles from the junior college ranks. Isaiah Coe hails from the same community college as current Sooners’ defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey. It’s early on for junior college recruiting, but Coe is exactly what Grinch is looking for in a zero or one technique defensive tackle.
JAMOND GORDON—UNRANKED
A name to just put off until the coronavirus pandemic’s shutdown on sports is over. Jamond Gordon is from East Mississippi Community College—a place where some of the top SEC teams recruit out of every year.
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