Tag: Damonic Williams

Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle Gracen Halton returning for 2025

Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle Gracen Halton returning for 2025 season.

The Oklahoma Sooners lost plenty of key contributors on defense from their 2024 team. That defense was the best the program had seen in years, finding good footing under head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and former defensive coordinator Zac Alley.

Players like [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], Da’Jon Terry, Woodi Washington, Trace Ford, Caiden Woullard and Dez Malone ran out of eligibility.

Contributors such as Dasan McCullough, Lewis Carter, and Kani Walker left via the NCAA winter [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag].

However, the cupboard is far from bare as OU heads into 2025. That’s primarily due to some of the big names that Venables and his staff have convinced to hold off on going pro to stay in school for one more year.

[autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag], [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag], [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag], [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag] and [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] all had the opportunity to go to the NFL and all made announcements that they will instead stay in Norman. Now, another key veteran piece is joining them.

Defensive tackle [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag] was expected to be back, but it’s now official, as he took to social media to announce that his return to the Sooners on Thursday.

Halton had a breakout season as a member of a ferocious group of defensive tackles for Oklahoma in 2024, a group that brings almost everyone back. Halton finished second on the team with five sacks and in total pressures per Pro Football Focus. He made a number of splash plays throughout the season. One of the bigger ones was the safety against Houston to preserve a home win in Week 2. Halton also had a sack and a half against South Carolina and a sack against LSU.

Prior to 2024, Halton had played fewer than 100 snaps in each of his two seasons with the Sooners. He earned a big jump in playing time seeing the field for 403 snaps on defense for OU.

Halton and the other veteran returners join Kobie McKinzie, Peyton Bowen, Eli Bowen, Samuel Omosigho, and Jayden Jackson to make up the core of Oklahoma’s defense in 2025.

Heading into 2025, the Oklahoma Sooners will once again be dynamic on defense.

Oklahoma Sooners electric defensive end returning for 2025

Oklahoma Sooners get great news as their electric defensive end is returning for the 2025 season.

The Oklahoma Sooners received more good news on Monday afternoon as a big piece of their defense is returning for 2025. Oklahoma’s best pass rusher, [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag], announced his decision on social media.

Thomas led the Sooners with nine sacks in 2024, including six during SEC play. He came up with key plays in Oklahoma’s big wins over Auburn and Alabama.

He also had a sack against Missouri that set up at second-and-16 late in the game. However, the Sooners couldn’t get off the field as Missouri made their comeback.

It was a breakout season for the former three-star prospect. He finished with 23 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks in 2024. He also led the Sooners with 36 total pressures and had two forced fumbles on the season.

Thomas battled injuries each of his first two years in Norman, which kept him from seeing the field much. But when he was on the field, you could see the potential. Finally healthy in 2024, he was a nightmare for opposing offensive lines.

Thomas is another key piece to the defense that will be back next season after [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag], Kip Lewis, [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag] and [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] announced they were coming back.

The Sooners defense was the bright spot during the 2024 season. It kept Oklahoma in a lot of games when the offense struggled to find much consistency. With Thomas back for his senior season, the Sooners have an opportunity to continue to develop their pass rush.

Oklahoma added a pair of players to the defense to help it take another step: former five-star edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr. and former Oklahoma State defender Kendal Daniels.

The Sooners defensive end room lost Ethan Downs, Trace Ford and Caiden Woullard to graduation but get a boost with Thomas’ return and the addition of Jones. With Adepoju Adebawore, Taylor Wein, Danny Okoye, Wyatt Gilmore, Nigel Smith, C.J. Nickson and Alexander Shieldnight on the defensive end depth chart, the Sooners have returning production and a promising group for defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis to work with.

Although Oklahoma hasn’t hired a replacement for Zac Alley, the players are buying into the vision Brent Venables has for the Sooners’ defense. With Venables at the helm, there’s no reason to expect Oklahoma will not have another great defense in 2025. But getting R Mason Thomas back to build off of his incredible 2024 season gives the Sooners a chance to be one of the best in the nation next year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DEf71_apeCf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

What does Kendel Dolby’s return mean for the Oklahoma Sooners?

Oklahoma will be getting a versatile, veteran defender back for next year.

The Oklahoma Sooners have seen key veteran pieces announce they’re returning for one more season in 2025.

First, it was defensive tackle [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], who made his intentions clear to return. Then, safety [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings [/autotag] announced that he was coming back as well. Now, a third key veteran piece of the defense has done the same.

Last season’s starting cheetah [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag] took to social media to announce that he’s coming back to Norman for the 2025 season on Friday. Dolby started the first four games of the season and played very well before a brutal season-ending injury in the Tennessee game.

He’s been a game-wrecker for this defense, going all the way back to 2023 when he found his way into the rotation at cheetah. Depending on his timetable, he’ll play a key role for the Sooners once again in 2025. He’s a veteran and he’s incredibly versatile, possessing great coverage skills, blitzing skills and strength at the position.

Despite losing key pieces like Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman, Ethan Downs and Da’Jon Terry on the defense, there’s a chance the Sooners are once again really good on that side of the ball next season, provided [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] hires the right defensive coordinator.

The defensive tackle spot is loaded, and the Sooners still have a chance to get their best pass rusher, R Mason Thomas, back for one more year on the edge. [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] and [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag] look in line to start at the inside linebacker spots. Dolby and Samuel Omosigho will man the cheetah position. Spears-Jennings and Peyton Bowen are both back at safety, and Eli Bowen will no doubt start at one cornerback spot.

As Venables continues to search for his next defensive play-caller, that hire will have one more pieces to use for his first season in 2025.

Could Oklahoma pursue Clemson defensive tackle transfer?

Could the Oklahoma Sooners pursue Clemson Transfer Portal defensive tackle?

The Oklahoma Sooners look set in the middle of their defensive line.

[autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag] had a breakout year. [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] earned a starting role as a true freshman. [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] is returning for one more year. And former five-star defensive tackle [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] will be called upon to contribute more in 2025.

That’s a nice four-man rotation for the Sooners at defensive tackle. They also have Markus Strong, who didn’t play much in 2024. When he did play, he showed an edge Todd Bates can continue to develop. Oklahoma brought in four-star defensive tackle [autotag]Trent Wilson[/autotag], who brings a lot of promise to the position as well.

However, the Sooners could add another big body to the middle of the defense via the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. Tre Williams, a former four-star defensive tackle, is reportedly entering the portal from Clemson, according to Pete Nakos of On3.

Williams was recruited by Todd Bates and Brent Venables and spent five years with the Clemson Tigers. As a grad transfer, he’d have one more year of eligibility. He’d be another veteran presence in the middle of the defense for the Sooners, filling the void left by the departing Da’Jon Terry.

In 2024, Williams recorded 14 total tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks on just 303 snaps. He was a key piece for a defense that allowed 23.4 points per game for the ACC champion Tigers.

Both of Williams’ sacks came in Clemson’s College Football Playoff loss to the Texas Longhorns.

He’s an experienced player who is familiar with Brent Venables’ system and could add to what the Sooners are trying to do on defense in 2025.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Oklahoma Sooners bringing back plenty of production at defensive tackle

OU will be looking to the defensive tackle position to lead the defense next year.

The Oklahoma Sooners lost defensive coordinator Zac Alley, who took the same position at West Virginia over the weekend. A defense that was so good in 2024 could take a dip in 2025, after it was the best OU had put on the field in years. Head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] is searching for his next defensive coordinator.

Unlike the offense in Norman, the defense has been on an incline since Venables arrived, and that side of the ball is his specialty. The defense probably won’t fall off a cliff next season, regardless of who calls the shots.

Whoever the next defensive coordinator is will have the aid of a very experienced and productive defensive line that returns so many players for 2025. [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] is out of eligibility, but [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag] and [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] will all be back in Norman next year.

Jackson, Halton and Stone were thought to be likely to return, but keeping them all in the boat is a win for Venables and defensive tackles coach [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] nonetheless. Jackson and Stone were true freshmen who saw good playing time in Year 1, and Halton had a breakout season as part of Oklahoma’s dynamic defensive tackle rotation.

Williams’ return is key, as he adds another productive veteran up front. Now the coaching staff doesn’t have to try to address defensive tackle in the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag].

With the many holes on the roster after a bad 6-7 season, the Sooners should once again be very good at defensive tackle. It’s one of the most important positions to have talent and depth in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Oklahoma will be leaning on the big guys once again as they try to bounce back in 2025.

Oklahoma Sooners defensive tackle returning to OU for 2025

Oklahoma Sooners get good news with a key defensive piece returning for the 2025 season.

The Oklahoma Sooners won a significant recruiting battle when they landed Damonic Williams out of the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] in 2024. And [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] isn’t done at OU.

He posted a reel on his Instagram stating, “One more year.”

There was a thought that Williams might head for the NFL after his one season in Norman, but will continue to be an anchor for the Sooners defense.

Williams was a big reason why the Oklahoma Sooner’s defense became one of the best-run defenses in the nation in 2024. With his return, the Sooners defensive tackle rotation continues to be a strength of the team with Williams, [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], and [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag]. Former five-star prospect [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] will take on a bigger role next year.

In 2024, Williams set a career-high in total tackles with 35. He tied his previous numbers at TCU with five tackles for loss and added a sack. According to Pro Football Focus, Williams was ninth on the team in total pressures with eight.

With Da’Jon Terry out of eligibility, Williams will be the veteran voice in the defensive tackle room and will continue to be a force for the Oklahoma Sooners.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEOI1yhyLEW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Oklahoma Sooners offer transfer portal defensive tackle

The Oklahoma Sooners are hoping to fortify their defensive tackle ranks with an offer to a talented transfer interior defensive lineman.

The Oklahoma Sooners defensive interior was one of the strengths of the roster in 2024. [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag], [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] formed a strong rotation that helped the Sooners become one of the best run defenses in the nation.

With Terry off to the NFL, the Sooners are looking to fortify their rotation and have issued an offer to [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] defensive lineman David Blay. Blay posted that Oklahoma offered on X.

Blay led the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs with 6 1/2 sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2024. He also had 46 total tackles for a defense that finished 20th in the nation in scoring. According to Pro Football Focus, Blay was 12th among defensive tackles in college football in PFF’s “stops” metric.

Against Arkansas, Blay recorded six total tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack. In Week 2 against North Carolina State, the talented defensive tackle had two total tackles and a tackle for loss.

At 6-foot-4 and 303 pounds, Blay has the requisite size to play on the inside for an SEC defense and would be a strong addition to the Sooners defensive tackle rotation.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Who will be Oklahoma’s captains against the LSU Tigers on Saturday?

Oklahoma Football game captains for Week 14 vs. the LSU Tigers.

The Oklahoma Sooners improved to 6-5 overall on the 2024 season with their victory over the [autotag]Alabama Crimson Tide[/autotag] in Week 13. OU is now 2-5 in SEC play, with just one week left in the regular season. Their Week 14 game comes against the [autotag]LSU Tigers[/autotag] on the road in Death Valley.

Oklahoma head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has chosen his game captains for the regular season finale. Quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], offensive lineman [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag], defensive linemen [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and punter [autotag]Luke Elzinga[/autotag] will represent the Sooners on the road. Arnold, Everett, Downs and Stutsman were also captains last week.

It’s actually the third straight week as a captain for Anrold, who is set to make his ninth start of the season on Saturday. He wasn’t asked to do much as a passer last week, but he played a clean game and ran really tough against Alabama. He led the Sooners with 131 rushing yards on 25 carries, helping to set the tone offensively.

Everett has become OU’s starting center, taking control of the job after getting healthy in the middle of the season. He’s one of the few veterans still healthy on the offensive line, surrounded by portal acquisitions and youth up front.

Williams is one of Oklahoma’s set of excellent defensive tackles, wrapping up his first season in Norman. With some of the veterans on the OU defense moving on next year, Williams will be in the spotlight more next season if he decides to stay in school.

Downs has been as steady as a rock at defensive end for the Sooners. He plays his best in the biggest games and is one of the best leaders on this team. He had an excellent performance helping shut down Jalen Milroe and the Tide offense last week.

Stutsman continues to be Oklahoma’s heartbeat. He was incredible against Alabama on Saturday, and is the ultimate leader on this team. He’ll be playing possibly the final game of his excellent career on Saturday if he decides to opt-out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft.

Elzinga has been perhaps the most consistent player on the entire roster this year. He’ll be sorely missed next season, as he’s been able to pin opponents deep since taking over as the starter midway through last season.

As the Sooners try to go into the Tigers’ den and come out with a victory, look for these players to lead the way on the road.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

Oklahoma Sooners captains against Missouri Tigers

The Sooners will be led by some of the biggest names on the team as captains against the Tigers.

The Oklahoma Sooners take the road this week, heading to Columbia, Missouri as they jump back into [autotag]SEC[/autotag] play. The 5-4 Sooners will look to win their second straight game, as they’ll visit the Missouri Tigers for a primetime battle away from home.

OU head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has announced his game captains for this conference tilt, and his team will be represented by some of the biggest names on the roster in a pivotal contest. Quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], tight end [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag], defensive linemen [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and defensive back [autotag]Billy Bowman Jr.[/autotag] will lead Oklahoma into battle as captains in week eleven.

Arnold has gone from the heir-apparent, to the no-doubt starter, to being benched, to being re-inserted in the lineup, and now back to captain status in a whirlwind month and a half. The sophomore has looked more comfortable since regaining his starting spot, and his play will go a long way toward deciding this week’s game.

Sharp has shown some positive things at tight end, but there’s still plenty to work on for a player still new to the position. The coaching staff clearly trusts him to get the lion’s share of the reps, and he’s been more effective since the offensive coordinator change.

Williams was a big offseason addition for this team, and has been been reliable in the interior of the defensive line. He hasn’t been spectacular, but he’s helped one of the strongest units on the team consistently shut down the inside run game week after week.

Halton has improved so much over the last couple of seasons, and is really coming into his own as another great interior line option on this defense. He’s found a knack for getting into the backfield and making big plays, none bigger than his game-changing safety against Houston all the way back in week two.

Stutsman is the unquestioned leader of this team, and one of the best inside linebackers in college football. He hasn’t seen as many wins in his senior season as he’d like, but he continues to excel no matter how far back against the wall the offense puts the defense this year.

Bowman Jr. hasn’t matched his unbelievable production from a year ago, but he’s still a very good veteran player in the back end of OU’s defense. If he can return to his ball-hawking, turnover-causing 2023 form, it’ll help this team immensely over the final four weeks of the regular season.

The Sooners are putting some of their biggest stars front and center for this game. The noteworthy names, especially Stutsman, Bowman Jr. and Arnold will have to play like stars on Saturday, and the rest of the season, for Oklahoma to begin stacking wins in the SEC.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.

Oklahoma Sooners name captains for Week 7 vs. Texas Longhorns

The Sooners announced their captains for a huge game against the archival Longhorns.

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns are just days away from renewing one of the greatest rivalry games sports has to offer. The [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag] pits the undefeated Longhorns against the 4-1 Sooners in Dallas.

Oklahoma head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has chosen six captains to represent his team in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. Tight end [autotag]Bauer Sharp[/autotag] and offensive lineman [autotag]Febechi Nwaiwu[/autotag] represent the offense, while defensive linemen [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and defensive back [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] represent the defense.

https://twitter.com/OU_Football/status/1843426222828818746

Sharp, a transfer from Southeastern Louisiana, is making his first appearance in this rivalry. He’s been OU’s leading receiving tight end so far this season. While he’s struggled a bit with blocking, he’s been a reliable target over the middle in the passing game.

Nwaiwu is also a newcomer to this game, after transferring in from North Texas. He’s been a constant at right guard for OU this season, and has had his fair share of good and bad up front. Still, he’s been healthy and good enough to hold down the starting gig.

Williams is another new face in this matchup after arriving in Oklahoma from TCU via the portal. A big NIL and recruiting win for Venables, he’s been a strong starter on OU’s nasty defensive front. Sooner Nation is still waiting for Williams’ true breakout game, but he’s been very good in his first five games in Norman.

Downs is a Red River veteran, playing in his fourth game against Texas. He was one of the stars of this matchup a season ago, pressuring QB Quinn Ewers again and again. Downs is one of many players that OU rotates in and out at defensive end, but his veteran leadership and his technique are huge for  the coaching staff.

Stutsman continues to serve as the leader of OU’s defense and is responsible for so much from play to play. His now-iconic quote before last year’s game is indicative of what he brings to the table for this team. He’s playing in his fourth Red River game and leads the Sooners in tackles so far this season.

Bowman is another veteran on this defense, also playing in his fourth matchup against the “Horns. He was another one of Oklahoma’s many defensive stars in this game last year, forcing an interception in the first quarter with a huge hit, and coming up with the defining fourth-down stop of OU’s legendary goal-line stand. He’s the leader of an excellent safety trio for the Sooners that will have to come up big once again in this game.

Oklahoma and Texas will kick things off on ABC on Saturday, and the game will begin at 2:30 p.m.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @AaronGelvin.