Tag: billy bowman

Oklahoma Sooners announce captains for week one vs. Temple

Oklahoma names Jackson Arnold, Billy Bowman, Danny Stutsman, and Bauer Sharp captains for week one vs. Temple.

The first game week of the season is at hand and the Oklahoma Sooners have announced their first set of captains for their week on matchup vs. Temple.

The Sooners select captains for each game during the regular season and then will select season captains when they get to the postseason.

Leading the Sooners into the game against Temple and into 2024 are the guys you’d expect to get a captain nod. Quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], and safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] represented the Sooners at SEC Media Days in July. They’ll be joined by transfer tight end [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag], who has impressed this offseason with his work ethic, attitude, and physicality.

Stutsman and Bowman are going into their fourth season with the Sooners. They were a part of Lincoln Riley’s final recruiting class in Norman but have become two of the most valuable pieces of the first three years of the Brent Venables era.

Stutsman and Bowman turned down an opportunity to go to the NFL for one more year at Oklahoma and a swim through the SEC. SEC media and coaches have taken note of the development of Oklahoma’s defensive stars, voting the dynamic duo to the preseason All-SEC first team.

They’ll be relied upon as the Sooners enter the SEC. Their experience and playmaking ability is a part of what has so many optimistic about the potential of Oklahoma’s defense in 2024.

Arnold is entering his first year as a starter. The former five-star prospect and Gatorade National Player of the Year has all the tools to be one of the next great quarterbacks to wear the crimson and cream. Venables has praised Arnold’s leadership and work ethic this offseason as the Denton Guyer product takes over for [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag].

More: Takeaways from Oklahoma’s official 2024 depth chart release

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Where does Oklahoma land in ESPN’s tier rankings?

Oklahoma has their work cut out for them in 2024 with a touch schedule.

The 2024 college football season is underway. Week Zero served up an appetizer platter on Saturday before Week 1 has wall-to-wall football from Thursday to Monday on Labor Day weekend.

With less than a week before the Oklahoma Sooners begin their season, the anticipation is palpable for the first season in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Third-year head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] thinks he has OU ready to excel on defense, and he hopes the offense can show out as well.

Nationally, the Sooners were ranked No. 16 by both the US LBM Coaches Poll and the Associated Press to begin the season. That number should rise with No. 10 Florida State‘s upset loss against Georgia Tech to open up the college football season. OU was picked to finish eighth in the SEC media poll.

ESPN took on the challenge of ranking all 134 FBS teams into 24 different tiers (ESPN+) before most schools kick off the year.

Oklahoma landed in Tier 4, with ESPN staff writer David Hale saying that either a berth in the [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag] or a 7-5 record is possible. The Sooners were grouped with Arizona, Kansas State, Missouri, Tennessee, and Utah. A total of five SEC teams were placed in the three tiers above the Sooners, Tigers, and Volunteers.

Consider Oklahoma’s 2023 season. A 10-win campaign. A win over a playoff team. One loss came on a touchdown with less than a minute to play. The other, by three, when the offense was stuffed on a fourth-down try at midfield. The Sooners were ranked ninth in the final FPI and were top 10 in offensive and defensive efficiency. Now consider that Oklahoma returns 86% of its defensive snaps from last season and will feature a former five-star recruit at QB. Why is it, exactly, that so many folks seem to think Oklahoma is in for a tough transition to the SEC? – David Hale, ESPN

Hale would go on to take an overview of the strength of the SEC, stating that nine teams in the league have legitimate playoff aspirations. Each of those nine teams is inside the top 16 of ESPN’s SP+ rating, meaning one of those teams could likely finish in ninth in its own league, but among the top 25 best teams in the nation. Teams in the SEC that normally have very high expectations may have to settle for feeling lucky to make a bowl game, which doesn’t mean the team wasn’t good. That’s how strong the conference is. The toughest conference in the sport got even more difficult when Oklahoma and Texas joined.

“The bottom line is that some SEC fanbases that have long viewed eight wins as a failure might now be living in a world where it’s a best-case scenario,” Hale said.

That reality will likely happen to at least one of the top teams in the SEC. The Sooners have to do their best to make sure it’s not them. With [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] returning to lead the defense and [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] stepping into the spotlight on offense, the expectations are high once again in Norman, even with the brutal realities of their new conference.

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Coaches vote Sooners defensive stars to All-SEC first team

Billy Bowman and Danny Stutsman voted to the Coaches preseason All-SEC first-team.

The Oklahoma Sooners may have a lot to prove as a team heading into the SEC, but there are a pair of Sooners defenders getting a ton of respect heading into their senior season.

Senior linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and senior safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] were selected to the All-SEC first team by the league’s coaches. Coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players. They were the only players voted to any of the three All-SEC teams.

Bowman showed out as one of the best safeties in the game in 2023. He recorded six interceptions, including three returns for touchdowns. Bowman also had 63 total tackles and four passes defended. He set program highs in interceptions, interception yardage, and interceptions returned for a touchdown.

Stutsman led the Sooners with 106 tackles and 16 tackles for loss in a breakout year of his own.

Both players had the opportunity to go to the NFL and would have likely been taken in the top 100 of the 2024 NFL draft. However, the two defensive leaders opted for one more year of development and to make a run through the SEC before heading off to the NFL.

The Oklahoma Sooners defense is on a strong trajectory heading into the 2024 season, but nothing will be given to them. Getting Stutsman and Bowman back for one more year provides the Sooners with front-line talent to go along with what [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] have been building through the transfer portal and on the recruiting trail.

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Oklahoma duo makes AP preseason All-American team

OU will be lead on defense by two returning seniors who came back to show their stuff in the SEC.

The Oklahoma Sooners enter the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] in 2024, and OU fans are as excited about the defensive side of the ball as they’ve been in a long time. Under third-year head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], that unit looks capable of playing up to the standard in Norman.

Star power and veteran leadership are certainly part of the reason why. Linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] both could have gone pro this past winter, but opted instead to stay in school and help lead the Sooners into the SEC. The seniors have already received plenty of offseason recognition, but as the season draws closer, they were recognized again on Monday.

Both players were named to the preseason Associated Press All-America team that was released less than a week before Week Zero marks the beginning of the college football season. Both Stutsman and Bowman made the second team-defense on AP’s team.

Stutsman was 15th in the nation in tackles for loss last season, averaging 1.3 per game. He was Oklahoma’s lifeblood, the team’s leader and tallied over 100 tackles for the second straight year. He was joined at the linebacker position on the second team by Oklahoma State’s Nick Martin and Old Dominion’s Jason Henderson.

Bowman was a nightmare in the secondary for opposing offensive coordinators. Three pick-six touchdowns accompanied his six total interceptions last year, making him one of the most dangerous defensive backs in all of college football. He was joined at the safety position on the second team by Dillon Thieneman of Purdue.

The duo was also named finalists for the Nagurski and Bednarik Trophies.

Stutsman and Bowman give Venables and new defensive coordinator [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] plenty of experience and talent at two important spots on the defense as the Sooners move into the SEC. Their returns meant that Oklahoma didn’t have to reload on the defensive side of the ball and they have a chance to take another step forward in 2024.

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Where did Oklahoma Sooners land on CBS Sports’ top 151 players in college football?

Where did Oklahoma Sooners stars land among CBS Sports top 151 players for the 2024 college football season?

The Oklahoma Sooners have increased the talent on the roster during each year of the Brent Venables era. It’s not that it wasn’t a talented team under Lincoln Riley. It was. But what Venables has done with a more holistic recruiting approach has created a roster far more capable of playing complementary football.

As we approach the 2024 college football season, all eyes are on Oklahoma as it makes its way into the SEC. Much of the concerns about the Sooners’ potential in 2024 falls on the offensive side of the ball, which is a far cry from what this team has been over the last decade.

Typically, analysts have wondered if the defense would be good enough for the Sooners to contend. While the questions on offense are warranted, the Sooners have a defense that can help mitigate some of those concerns if they can live up to expectations.

Blake Brockermeyer of CBS Sports released his top 151 players entering the 2024 season. Six Sooners made the list, including four from the defensive side of the ball, signaling a shift in what this team is about under Venables.

Here’s a look at the Sooners who made the top 151.

28. Danny Stutsman, LB

[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] returning for the 2024 season was a monumental moment of the Oklahoma Sooners offseason. He sets the tone for everything the Sooners want to be about on the field. Confidence, toughness, physicality, and a defensive mindset. He was missed in the Sooners’ two regular-season losses last year. Stutsman believes there’s unfinished business for the Sooners and hopes to have OU in contention this season.

Stutsman flirted with going to the NFL but will be back and looking to improve even further on a very productive season: 100 tackles, 16 TFLs, three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. He’s perfect for Brent Venables. Stutsman is an excellent box backer who has the ability to roam sideline to sideline and is solid in coverage, only allowing 21 catches for 242 yards. Oklahoma is glad to have him ahead of a brutal SEC schedule. – Brockermeyer, CBS Sports

68. Deion Burks, WR

[autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] has a chance to put together a phenomenal season. The Sooners are going to get the former Purdue wide receiver the ball in a variety of ways to maximize his game-breaking speed and ability to make plays in space.

The explosive slot receiver turned a ton of heads this spring after transferring from Purdue. His spring breakout comes as no surprise if you’re a Purdue fan. Burks is a weapon with excellent speed and the ability to create space and hit the home run. – Brockermeyer, CBS Sports

Up Next: A pair of Veteran Defenders

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Where does Oklahoma land in Athlon Sports’ defensive back unit rankings?

Oklahoma’s secondary has plenty of potential, featuring a good mix of veterans and youth.

The Oklahoma Sooners will be looking to take another step forward on defense in 2024, as OU enters Year 3 of the [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] era.

Venables was hired because of his defensive acumen and because of his championship merit at both Oklahoma and Clemson. In his first season, the Sooners gave up 30 points per game on their way to a subpar 6-7 record. Last year, Oklahoma bounced back to go 10-3, giving up just 23.5 points per game.

Now the time has come to make another leap on that side of the ball, and one unit that can help make that happen is the secondary. It’s a unit that was bad in 2022 but improved last season, along with the rest of the defense. It’s also a unit that gave up too many big plays, had the occasional coverage bust last year, and needs to continue improving.

Fortunately, Athlon Sports thinks Oklahoma will have one of the best secondaries in the nation this year, as they revealed their Top 20 defensive back units in the country on Saturday. The Sooners came in at No. 11 overall, third in the SEC. Only Georgia (No. 2) and Texas (No. 10) came in above OU. Ohio State topped Athlon’s list.

The reason for the optimism is the mix of experienced veterans and talented youngsters that have the opportunity to mesh well and create great things for the Sooners in 2024.

Cornerbacks coach [autotag]Jay Valai[/autotag] has plenty of different options to work with on both sides of the field. Sixth-year senior [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] will still likely play multiple positions on the defense (cornerback, safety and Cheetah), but is going to reportedly be playing a bunch of cornerback once again. The trio of [autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Kani Walker[/autotag] and [autotag]Dez Malone[/autotag] will also be counted upon heavily, and all four will see plenty of action. [autotag]Jacobe Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Makari Vickers[/autotag] could also get some run, as they’re both younger players with very high upside.

Similarly, safeties coach [autotag]Brandon Hall[/autotag] will get to mix-and-match different combinations in the back end of the defense. Safety might be even deeper than corner on this year’s team. The return of [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] is what unlocks this position group. The senior is one of the best players on the team in 2024. He’s become a leader for the Sooners and was a ball hawk last year, making big play after big play.

The combination of [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] and [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag] will share snaps at the other safety spot, and OU is excited about what that duo can do.

The depth at the position is strong with [autotag]Reggie Powers III[/autotag], [autotag]Jaydan Hardy[/autotag], [autotag]Erik McCarty[/autotag], [autotag]Michael Boganowski[/autotag] and [autotag]Mykel Patterson-McDonald[/autotag] providing an interesting group of skillsets and plenty of youth. If the injury bug bites, Washington, [autotag]Samuel Omosigho[/autotag], and [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag] could move from primary positions to help out on the back line.

Venables and new defensive coordinator [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] know that the defense has to continue their ascent to get where they want to go in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Fortunately, the time for talking is almost over, as the Sooners will begin their season in less than two weeks. The Temple Owls come to Norman on Friday, August 30th.

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Pro Football Focus comes in lower than polls in preseason power rankings

Oklahoma was ranked lower by Pro Football Focus than the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25.

The Oklahoma Sooners were ranked No. 16 in the country in the initial Top 25 polls by both the Associated Press and the US LBM Coaches Poll to begin the 2024 season. Both polls had OU ranked eighth in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag], as did the SEC media poll. However, one site has Oklahoma ranked even lower nationally than the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll.

Pro Football Focus revealed their preseason Top 25 rankings earlier this week. The Sooners checked in at No. 18, two spots lower than the two official polls. PFF did still have OU at eighth in the SEC, keeping consistent with most other lists. Here’s what PFF writers Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman had to say about [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ team in 2024.

Oklahoma might take some time to fully acclimate as it debuts in the SEC and with all of the new moving parts on its roster, but the Sooners can still compete for a playoff spot if they jell quickly. – Pro Football Focus

The Sooners will look to the defense to lead the way this season, a change from years past.

A talented, productive, and veteran defense breaks in new coordinator [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag], but has all of the pieces to dominate opposing offenses in 2024. Inside linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], defensive end [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], cornerback [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] and new TCU transfer defensive tackle [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] lead the way for a unit with high expectations.

Offensively, the Sooners are younger and have a few more concerns. They’re also breaking in new coordinators in [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag]. A much-discussed offensive line had to replace all five primary starters from last year’s team and is tasked with protecting new starting quarterback, sophomore [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag].

The former five-star prospect has plenty of weapons on offense, led by running back [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and wide receivers like Purdue transfer [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] and returning players [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag] and [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag]. If the new offensive line can gel and the tight end position can give the Sooners better production than last year, OU could once again have a high-scoring offense.

Special teams analyst [autotag]Doug Deakin[/autotag] is also new this year, and he takes over a unit that must be better in 2024. [autotag]Luke Elzinga[/autotag] is entrenched as the starting punter, but all of the other major positions within special teams seem to be up for grabs. Most notably, the kicker spot is still yet to be decided.

Brent Venables enters Year 3 as the head coach at Oklahoma and has been diligent in the process of turning over the roster. Only nine players remain on the 2024 fall camp roster that were on the roster at the end of the 2021 regular season. Slowly but surely, the Sooners have been rebuilt to defend the standard that has been set in place in Norman.

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Trio of Sooners among ESPN’s top 100 players for the 2024 season

The Oklahoma Sooners were represented on both sides of the ball in ESPN’s top 100 players for the 2024 season.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a number of talented players on both sides of the ball. If there’s reason for optimism heading into the season it’s that the defense is as talented or possibly more talented than the group on offense.

And that’s a good thing.

The Sooners needed a more well-rounded team during the [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag] era and appear to be trending toward that under [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. The defense has talent at every level of the defense, led by [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag].

Offensively, they’ve got the talent to have one of the best offenses in the nation. If [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] lives up to expectations, the Oklahoma offense will be humming all year long.

The Sooners may not have as much name recognition as some of the other teams across the country, but they have a trio of players that will be household names in 2024. ESPN released its top 100 college football players heading into the season and the Sooners had three players land on the list.

74. Deion Burks, WR

Despite playing for a 4-8 Purdue team last season, Burks was one of the top non-quarterback additions in the winter transfer portal. He gives new Oklahoma QB [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] a No. 1 target who can find the end zone (seven touchdowns in 2023) and stretch defenses. Burks had a reception of 42 yards or longer in four games last fall, including an 84-yard score against Fresno State. – ESPN

Outside of the quarterback, there may be no player more important to Oklahoma’s offensive success than [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag]. He looks like a thicker, stronger version of Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. Taking over in the slot after [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] had a career year, expectations are high for Burks after he electrified in the Sooners spring game.

73. Billy Bowman, S

Bowman has started 29 of the 35 games he has played in his career and was named a first-team All-Big 12 player for his efforts in 2023. He was second in the country with six interceptions (three of which he took back for touchdowns) and ranked third on the team with 63 total tackles. – ESPN

[autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] took the nation by storm in 2023 with his six interceptions and three interceptions returned for a touchdown. Now in his fourth season and third in Brent Venables defense, the sky is the limit for the athletic safety.

32. Danny Stutsman, LB

The senior linebacker is one of the players who will be key to Oklahoma’s success in 2024. An All-Big 12 first-team selection last season, Stutsman led the Sooners with 104 total tackles, 51 solo tackles and 16 tackles for loss. He also had three sacks, a pick, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. – ESPN

Everything’s prepped and ready for Danny Stutsman to have another fabulous season for the Oklahoma Sooners. With improved defensive line play and linebacker depth, OU will get the most out of their star linebacker this season.

Notables

  • In the Oklahoma Sooners’ first SEC game, the offensive line will have to do battle with ESPN’s No. 1 player, James Pierce, Jr. It will be quite the test for the offensive tackles Jacob Sexton and Jake Taylor.
  • One-time Oklahoma commit turned Missouri Tiger, [autotag]Luther Burden[/autotag] comes in at No. 5.
  • LSU linebacker Harold Perkins, who has been on a bunch of preseason first team All-American squads alongside Danny Stutsman ranked No. 14 in the nation.
  • Former Sooners quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] came in at No. 16 overall, seven spots ahead of Texas’ [autotag]Quinn Ewers[/autotag].

That’s just a few of the 19 players that the Oklahoma Sooners will face in 2024.

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Oklahoma Sooners success isn’t all on Jackson Arnold

The Oklahoma Sooners have a more complete team heading into 2024, taking some of the pressure off of their first year starter at quarterback

Quarterback is the most important position in football. Make no mistake about it. That’s why they’re the highest-paid players in the NFL and why they’re moving the biggest needle on the name, image and likeness licensing front.

But football is the ultimate team sport. Having great quarterback play can elevate a team that may have other deficiencies. That’s what we saw during the [autotag]Baker Mayfield[/autotag], [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag] era of Sooner football. Those elite quarterbacks were able to put the Sooners into contention despite a defense that wasn’t consistent enough.

That isn’t the case anymore. For what feels like the first time in a long time, the Oklahoma Sooners aren’t solely dependent on their quarterback to be superhuman.

So while all eyes are on [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] and the Oklahoma offense, the Sooners are heading into the SEC in somewhat unfamiliar territory. The strength of the team is on the defensive side of the ball.

Led by a talented and experienced defensive unit, the Sooners look ready to change the narrative that’s persisted for the last decade. Entering Year 1 in the SEC, Oklahoma isn’t going to rely on its quarterback playing Super Saiyan football for an entire season for it to have a chance to win football games.

That’s because they have a defense capable of being one of the best in the conference, which will take the pressure off Arnold and the offense. Gone are the days when the Sooners have to score 40 to have a chance to win. After allowing 30 points per game in the first season under Brent Venables in 2022, the Sooners have improved by nearly a touchdown a game to 23.5 points per game.

They allowed 30 or more in just three games last season and allowed fewer than four yards per carry. This team held the vaunted Texas offense to 23 points in the Red River Showdown, forcing the 2024 Heisman front-runner into two interceptions and stopping the Longhorns short of the end zone four times from the 1-yard line.

They weren’t perfect last year. There’s room to improve, but the Oklahoma Sooners did just that.

Venables convinced [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] and [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] to return for another season. That gave the Sooners valuable experience and production. In addition to the development of [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], they added one of the more dynamic defensive tackles in the nation, [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], along with true freshmen phenoms [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag]. Once considered a weakness of the Sooners’ defense, the defensive interior is now a strength. Combine that with the additions of [autotag]Caiden Woullard[/autotag], who had 9 1/2 sacks for Miami (Ohio), [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag], [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag], and [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag] and the further development of [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag] and [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag]. The result is a Sooners defensive front that is loaded with experience and promising young players fighting to break into the rotation.

From the front four to the back seven, the Oklahoma defense is ready to take the next step. And that’s great news for Arnold and the Sooners offense.

The Sooners have a more complete team, even with questions on the offensive side of the ball. They have a team more capable of playing complementary football.

As Arnold gets adjusted to life as the starting quarterback and the offensive line comes together, the defense will lead the way for the Sooners in 2024.

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Danny Stutsman named to Butkus Award watch list

Danny Stutsman is the heart and soul of Oklahoma’s defense.

The preseason recognition continues to roll in for Oklahoma Sooners star linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag]. After making preseason watch lists for the Nagurski Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and the Bednarik Award, the senior made another watch list on Tuesday.

Stutsman has made the Butkus Award preseason watch list. The Butkus Award is given to the best linebacker in college football. It’s named after Dick Butkus, a two-time All-American at Illinois, who went on to have a spectacular career in the NFL, eventually being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Oklahoma has had four winners of the Butkus Award. [autotag]Brian Bosworth[/autotag] is the only two-time winner in the awards’ history, winning for the inaugural two seasons the award was given out in 1985 and 1986.[autotag]Rocky Calmus[/autotag] (2001) and [autotag]Teddy Lehman[/autotag] (2003) also brought home the Butkus Award. The Sooners are one of two schools with four winners, joined at the top by Alabama.

Stutsman made the watch list before the 2023 season. What followed was a campaign where he was 15th in the nation in tackles for loss last season, averaging 1.3 per game. Stutsman led the Sooners with 104 total tackles, including 16 tackles for loss. He had three sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery last year, as well as a pick-six. He also had three pass breakups in coverage. He came back to OU to get a chance to further develop and play in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

Stutsman has the most preseason watch list nods on the team with four, edging out safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] by one. He’s become one of the undisputed leaders of the Sooners along with Bowman and quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag].

Stutsman allows new defensive coordinator/linebackers coach [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] to have another coach on the field in his first season in Norman. Stutsman is going into his third year playing in the system and is able to lead the way for some of the less-experienced personnel.

Oklahoma looks ready to roll defensively in 2024, as Venables continues to transform the roster. If Stutsman can perform up to the standard that names like Bosworth, Calmus, and Lehman set at linebacker, it could be a special year in Norman.

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