With the departures of [autotag]Nik Bonitto[/autotag] and [autotag]Isaiah Thomas[/autotag] to the NFL, there’s a sizable void on the edge of the Oklahoma Sooners’ defensive line. Bonitto and Thomas combined for 30.5 sacks over the last two seasons and 14 in 2021.
Who steps up to fill the shoes of the Sooners’ defensive leaders is one of the biggest question marks facing Brent Venables and Oklahoma’s defense in 2022. They aren’t devoid of options with up-and-comers like [autotag]Reggie Grimes[/autotag], [autotag]Marcus Stripling[/autotag], and [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] expected to factor in heavily coming off the edge.
It’s easy to see how each of these guys could be an impact player for the Oklahoma Sooners, but Ethan Downs has received the most buzz. Just last week, when he met with the media, [autotag]Wanya Morri[/autotag]s talked about the effort Downs brings to every practice.
Over at 247Sports, Brad Crawford picked 22 players he sees as “rising stars” heading into the 2022 season, and Ethan Downs came in at No. 9.
[autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] is the kind of player defensive-minded Oklahoma coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has loved throughout his career — hard-nosed, physical, and unafraid to put his face in the fan off the edge. He only made 14 tackles in 13 games last season, but insiders point to Downs being Oklahoma’s breakout player on defense this fall because of how he fits within Venables’ scheme, one that caters to his obvious strengths. – Crawford, 247Sports
It remains to be seen how the snaps will be divided among the top edge players. That competition will linger into fall camp and possibly throughout the season. But Ethan Downs is undoubtedly a player to watch as Oklahoma’s spring game comes on April 23.
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