The Oklahoma Sooners earned a legendary upset win over the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday night behind a strong defensive performance. Leading the charge for the Oklahoma defense this year has been senior linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag].
He’s been an important voice on and off the field for the Sooners and has been the face of the defensive turnaround in Norman.
For his efforts in 2024, Stutsman has been named a Butkus Award Finalist. The award is given to the best linebacker in the nation.
Stutsman was named alongside Barrett Carter of Clemson, Chris Paul Jr. of Ole Miss, Carson Schwesinger of UCLA, and Jalon Walker of Georgia.
Stutsman and Carter both spent time with Brent Venables as their defensive coordinator.
On the year, Stutsman has 100 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and a sack. It’s the third season in a row in which he’s registered 100 tackles for the Sooners.
The Sooners defense ranks 23rd in the nation in scoring at 20.2 points per game and 16th in total yards per game. And Stutsman’s been at the heart of it.
Oklahoma has had three players win the award. [autotag]Brian Bosworth[/autotag] won back-to-back awards in 1985 and 1986. [autotag]Rocky Calmus[/autotag] won it in 2001 and [autotag]Teddy Lehman[/autotag] in 2003. Each of Oklahoma’s past winners were instrumental to the OU’s defensive success, just as Stutsman has been.
Stutsman has one more game to cement his legacy with the Sooners as OU gets ready to go on the road to play LSU in Baton Rouge. It will be the first time the Sooners have made the trip to Death Valley, but Stutsman and the defense has risen to the occasion all season long.
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