Tag: ethan downs

Secondary is deep, but don’t forget about Woodi Washington

Woodi Washington has been around for a long time in Norman. He’d love to go out with a bang in his first season in the SEC.

Oklahoma defensive back [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] has seen just about everything in his time as a member of the Sooner football program. He began his career all the way back in 2019, playing in four games as a true freshman.

To put that in perspective, here’s what Oklahoma football looked like in 2019: The head coach was [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag], not [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. In fact, Venables had just helped Clemson win their second national championship in three years, serving as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. Quarterback [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] was off to the pros after winning OU’s second straight [autotag]Heisman Trophy[/autotag] and its eighth overall. The Sooners had been soundly beaten in the [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag] by Alabama in the Orange Bowl semifinal, and Riley was onto his third season as the head coach, after [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag] handed over the reins in the summer of 2017.

The 2019 season saw another star quarterback in the form of Heisman runner-up [autotag]Jalen Hurts[/autotag]. It saw another decisive defeat in the [autotag]CFP[/autotag], this time at the hands of LSU in the Peach Bowl semifinal. Riley had just six losses in three seasons as OU’s head coach, but the cracks were beginning to show, we just didn’t know it yet. The Sooners are still seeking that return trip to the playoff, and they only won the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] one more time (in 2020) since then. Riley’s exit after the 2021 regular season paved the way for Venables to return to OU, this time as the head ball coach.

The [autotag]SEC[/autotag] rumors were non-existent. Realignment itself was quiet in general. It was still illegal to pay players. NIL discussions were still months from blowing up. The Playoff was still at four teams, and folks were okay with it. The [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] was still in its infancy. Nobody knew what COVID-19 was. EA Sports wasn’t making college football video games.

Washington has stayed a Sooner though it all. A head coaching change, multiple coordinators and position coaches and the entire landscape of college football shifting under his feet.

He’s the longest-tenured member of Oklahoma’s roster, taking over that role with [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag]’ OU career finally over. And just like Stoops, he’s hoping his last season as a Sooner is his best one.

The super-senior was the leader in defensive snaps last year at cornerback, but he’ll be moving all over the defensive backfield in his final season as a Sooner. He’s been a fixture on the outside of the defense at cornerback since 2020, but he’ll likely play some safety and even some cheetah in 2024.

Washington has started 36 of his 46 career games, including all 13 each of the last two seasons. He’s registered 202 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, is OU’s active career leader with 19 pass breakups, and ranks second with five interceptions. He’s the only player on Oklahoma’s roster with CFP experience as a member of the Sooners.

He’s not the headliner of Oklahoma’s defense this year. [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] and [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] take that crown. Damonic Williams has garnered a ton of attention since his high-profile recruitment. Washington’s exact position on the field is still up in the air, but he brings something to the table that is valuable to the team.

Washington’s experience will be crucial in 2024. The Sooners will have to respond to success, and failure, in the SEC differently than they did in the Big 12. They will no longer have weeks against cupcakes in conference to catch their breath after a loss or a close call. They will no longer have a tune-up for a big-time matchup. Every week in the SEC is a dogfight for sixty minutes.

There will come multiple points in the 2024 season when the Sooners are reeling from a blow as a team. While it’s primarily Venables and the coaching staff’s job to make sure the team stays locked in, Washington’s veteran presence will be important as a leader on the field who’s seen everything in college football. From the College Football Playoff to 6-7 and everything in between, Woodi Washington has spent half a decade as a Sooner.

Maybe Year 6 will be his most memorable patrolling the secondary in Norman.

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On3 expert thinks this unit will be the reason Oklahoma sinks or swims

Does Bill Bedenbaugh’s offensive line have enough to get the job done in the SEC?

You’ve heard about it all offseason if you’re an Oklahoma Sooners football fan. Can the offensive line mesh together well enough to get by in Year 1 in the brutal [autotag]SEC[/autotag]? Will the young players and [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] additions help or hurt OU in their pursuit of making the inaugural 12-team [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag]?

Elsewhere on the roster, Oklahoma looks pretty good on paper. [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] takes the reins at quarterback, a moment OU fans have been eagerly anticipating for a long time. Arnold is inexperienced, yes, but his talent and upside are evident to anyone who has watched him play.

The Sooners have an embarrassment of riches at wide receiver, with no less than five players who fans would trust to be on the field in pressure-cooker moments.

Running back is solid, with leading rusher [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] returning. Health will be key in the backfield, but that position group should have the horses to get the job done.

The secondary is another position that must stay healthy, but there’s plenty of experience at most of the starting spots and plenty of young talent behind the starters. Safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag]’s return makes the defensive backfield a strength.

Another strength comes in the form of [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and the linebacker group. Almost all of the key contributors from a year ago return and they complete a back seven that is seen by some as being among the best in the conference.

The defensive line is a bit more of a concern, but [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] is back to lead the defense in the trenches. Oklahoma lost a lot of experience, talent and depth to graduation, the NFL and the portal, but they’ve worked hard to replace those exits. A major win in the spring portal window was the commitment of TCU transfer [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag]. He helps fortify one of the most important positions on the roster under Brent Venables’ vision and identity for the program.

The Sooners have other areas of concern. Tight end still needs to be sorted out. The same goes for the special teams. [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] is entering just his third season as the head coach in Norman and is breaking in brand-new coordinators on both sides of the ball. [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] comes over from Jacksonville State to lead the defense, while [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag] and [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] were internal promotions who are now in charge of the offense.

But the biggest talking point this offseason, aside from OU’s brutal schedule in 2024’s journey to the SEC, has been that offensive line. Oklahoma had to replace the entire unit after last year and it’s one of the most valuable position groups on any football team. The performance of the o-line could literally make or break 2024 for the Sooners.

On his show, “The Hard Count with J.D. PicKell” On3’s college football expert J.D. PicKell gave his thoughts on Venables and the Sooners following [autotag]SEC media days[/autotag]. He laid out just how important one position group can be for the offense, and the entire Oklahoma team:

“I think the number one question we’ve all got to ask right now is can they protect Jackson Arnold because you bring in pretty much a whole new offensive line,” PicKell said. “Now I love (offensive line coach) [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag]. I think he’s going to be able to get the most out of whatever unit they have out there; I trust him. But at the same time if you can’t protect Jackson Arnold, in the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] that’s one thing, in the SEC that’s a completely other beast.”

PicKell also stated that it’s not all Arnold’s fault if the young quarterback struggles in the season’s early stages, while also laying out a path to early success.

“So if Jackson Arnold struggles early on in the year, make sure we evaluate the context for him,” PicKell said. “Make sure we’re assessing what he’s getting on that offensive line and how much time he has to deliver the football. Because if they can protect Jackson Arnold, if they do give him a chance to read the defense and feel comfortable confident back there in the pocket, they have, I believe, one of the most slept on wide receiver rooms in not just the SEC, in all of America. I’ll say it again. [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] … I love [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] I love [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] when he’s healthy, so all of those pieces I think make it very difficult as a defense to give the proper attention to all those weapons.”

PicKell went on to say that the offensive line’s success opening up running lanes will help take the pressure off Arnold and make OU’s offense more multi-faceted. He also highlighted the returning experience on Oklahoma’s defense and hypothesized that the Sooners could be in a few more low-scoring battles that fans are used to in Norman.

Simply put, the offensive line could be the reason that Oklahoma sinks or the reason the Sooners swim in 2024. The season is approaching quickly and Bedenbaugh will have fall camp to get his unit ready to gel together and compete in the SEC. The true mark of OU being an “SEC-ready” program would if the Sooners are able to overcome a weaker part of their roster by over-excelling at, perhaps, wide receiver or the defensive back seven.

The 2024 Oklahoma Sooners begin their season in less than six weeks. They’ll host the Temple Owls on Friday, August 30 at 6:00 p.m. on ESPN.

Oklahoma’s defensive leaders confident heading into the SEC

Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman spoke confidently at SEC media days about the direction of the Oklahoma Sooners defense.

The Oklahoma Sooners defense took a huge step in 2023. They improved from 99th in the nation in scoring defense to No. 49, cutting their points per game allowed by nearly a touchdown in the process. It’s a group that is expected to take another step as the Sooners head into the SEC.

The challenges are different, but there is elite offense being played in the Southeastern Conference by teams like Tennessee, Texas, Ole Miss, Alabama, and LSU. The defensive unit knows they have to continue to grind, but to hear defensive leaders [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] and [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] speak at SEC media days, they’re a confident group.

“When you look at our team, we know what we’re capable of,” Stutsman said. “Like he said before, we’ve got to prove ourselves right. That comes from every single day, every single workout, we have to prove ourselves right. And then eventually you just have seen so much growth, so much progress that it comes to fruition.”

It’s a group that trusts the developmental process. From winter workouts to spring ball to summer workouts and fall camp, which will begin in a couple of weeks, the defense believes in what they’ve done this offseason.

“We’re very confident,” Bowman said. The preparation we have put in, the work we have put in, it allows us to be confident.

“Ever since the game ended in San Antonio versus Arizona, we’ve been hitting the road hard, working, grinding extra, doing everything we can to obviously come out here and perform better than we did last year.”

They’ve put the work in, but it’s also a talented group full of blue-chip players and a ton of experience. [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag], [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], Stutsman, Bowman, [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag], [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Caiden Woullard[/autotag], [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag], [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag], [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag], [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag], and [autotag]Kani Walker[/autotag] have each had at least two years of collegiate experience. A number of those players have played three or more seasons of college ball.

That experience and the success they had in 2023 helped to fuel their offseason work, giving them confidence for 2024.

“It brings a lot of confidence, Bowman said. “Especially bringing back experienced guys all over the defense, from the (defensive line), to the linebacker core to the defensive backs. Going into this year three will be another big jump. We’re in control of our own destiny. I feel like we’re doing a great job of continuing to keep the foot on the pedal, and we know we’re nowhere close to where we need to be.”

It’s a hungry group. As good as they were in 2023, there’s another level they can go to. And for the Sooners to be successful in year one in the SEC, [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag]’s defense will have to go to that level.

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A bulked up Adepoju Adebawore could be a nightmare for SEC offenses

The former five-star prospect is much heavier than he was when he walked on campus and ready to terrorize QBs in the SEC.

Day 2 of [autotag]SEC media days[/autotag] featured [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and the Oklahoma Sooners.

Venables, quarterback [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman [/autotag], and safety [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] had plenty to say about this year’s team while on the mic. However, one note from the head coach before OU’s time at the podium was eye-opening.

Venables shared with the media in attendance that true sophomore defensive end [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag] is over 260 pounds entering fall camp. The former five-star prospect in the [autotag]2023 recruiting class[/autotag] weighed 240 pounds exiting high school, according to Rivals. That means that the speedy pass-rusher has gained over twenty pounds since arriving in Norman. He was one of three five-star prospects in that historic class, along with Arnold and safety [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag].

Adebawore played in all 13 games last season after enrolling at OU in January 2023. He was a consensus five-star and top-25 national recruit, ranked as the No. 4 player in the country by On3, No. 9 by 247Sports, No. 20 by ESPN, and No. 21 by Rivals. He was regarded as the nation’s second-best edge prospect by 247Sports, On3 and ESPN, and No. 3 by Rivals. Adebawore ranked as the No. 1 recruit in the state of Missouri by all four services and was a 2022 Under Armour All-American. He chose Oklahoma over Arkansas, Missouri, and Northwestern, among others.

Adebawore had a limited role in his true freshman season, but still made his presence felt at times during the year. He could be in line for more playing time at defensive end in 2024, and his upside is nearly limitless.

The Sooners lost plenty of depth and experience on the defensive line this offseason, but return [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] to lead the way. However, Adebawore provides the talent in a pass-rushing role that Oklahoma needs in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

Oklahoma is entering a trenches conference, where the lines of scrimmage win and lose football games. An elite pass rusher like Adebawore, who has the potential to develop, would go a long way towards winning in 2024 and beyond.

He might not be on everyone in the SEC’s radar yet, but now that he’s spent some time under the tutelage of Jerry Schmidt and bulked up this offseason, he may be wreaking havoc in a backfield near you soon.

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ESPN believes this true freshman defensive lineman is a sleeper

Oklahoma Sooners true freshman considered sleeper by ESPN.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a number of players that could have a breakout season in 2024. Among Sooners freshmen, [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] have received a great deal of love this offseason. But another freshman caught the attention of ESPN’s David Hale.

ESPN’s college football analysts picked one player they believed is a “sleeper” for each of the teams in their preseason top 25. For the Sooners, Hale picked former four-star prospect and Oklahoma native [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag].

Freshman defensive lineman Danny Okoye arrived in Norman in January and got to work, putting on more than 20 pounds. The 6-3, 255-pound edge rusher has drawn praise from coach Brent Venables this spring for his work ethic and athleticism — he reportedly runs a 4.56 40-yard dash — and as the Sooners try to find a rotation up front, Okoye could claim his share of playing time early on. – Wilson, ESPN

Okoye was a top 150 prospect in the 247Sports composite in the 2024 recruiting class. He was rated as the No. 12 edge rusher in the cycle. He’s an incredible athlete that has great size and speed. He has a chance to make a significant impact with the Sooners.

Oklahoma has been searching for someone to be a difference maker off the edge. [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] has been their most productive pass rusher over the last two seasons. They added Caiden Woullard in the transfer portal. Woullard had 9 1/2 sacks last season for Miami (Ohio). Then there are stars in the making such as [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag] and [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag].

Okoye definitely has the tools to earn playing time for the Sooners this year as they continue to search for consistent pass rush productivity.

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Arnold says Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman returning huge for Sooners

Speaking at the Manning Passing Academy, Jackson Arnold shared with Chris Gordy of Locked On SEC about how important it was for OU to get Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman back.

For the first time in a while, most of the questions about the Oklahoma Sooners center on the offensive side of the ball.

Entering Year 1 in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] with a new starting quarterback and a completely new offensive line will do that. However, it’s not just any quarterback leading the way for the Sooners. It’s a former five-star prospect, Jackson Arnold.

In limited time last season, Arnold showed many of the tools that helped him win Gatorade National Player of the Year and Elite 11 MVP coming out of high school. He had numerous really good moments in extended runs against BYU and in his lone start against Arizona. There were also moments that revealed further development needed to happen. But many, including Arnold’s head coach, are confident he’ll take the steps necessary to help the Sooners be a contender in 2024.

But the best news, is that the success of the team doesn’t fall completely on his and the offense’s shoulders. Entering Year 3 of the Brent Venables era, the Sooners have a defense that should be able to hold up their end of the bargain and help Oklahoma win a number of games this season. Is it a perfect unit? No. But it is far better situated than a few years ago, and it should be good enough to afford Arnold and the offensive line some growing pains, if there are any this year.

It’s a blue-chip, star-studded defense from front to back as Venables has made splashes on the high school recruiting scene and in the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. But with all the talent for [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] to work with on defense, two guys lead the way for the Sooners: [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag].

“I mean, it was huge having guys like Billy and Danny come back,” Arnold told Chris Gordy of Locked On SEC at the Manning Passing Academy. “You know, those are two leaders on our team, and you know those are the guys that are gonna get our guys into battle man. To have your starting Mike linebacker, and your starting strong safety just come back. I mean, it’s really impressive. I think Billy had six picks last year. It’s just incredible. You know, having those guys back it’s gonna be huge for our defense for their confidence and for the performance on the field.”

The experience and the talent Oklahoma boasts on defense is a big reason there’s so much optimism. Stutsman and Bowman, along with [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag], [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] and [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] provide important leadership and experience as Oklahoma makes its way into the SEC.

Venables has done significant work over the last three offseasons to retool a defensive depth chart that was lacking just that, depth. Oklahoma improved defensively from 99th in scoring defense to 49th between the first and second seasons. By improving nearly a touchdown a game, Oklahoma’s defense made life much easier for the offense.

The hope is further defensive improvement will take place and take the pressure off of an incredibly talented, if inexperienced, offense.

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How did EA Sports rate Oklahoma’s defense in ‘College Football 25?’

When “College Football 25” drops, the Oklahoma Sooners will open with one of the best defenses in the country.

EA Sports is releasing “College Football 25” on July 19, and fans are excited for the return of the college football video game series.

On Thursday, EA released its defensive ratings for the 25 best defenses in the game, and Oklahoma is just outside the top 10.

“College Football 25” has OU as the No. 12 defense ahead of the launch of the highly anticipated video game. It’s the No. 4 best defense in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. This comes following the mutual parting of ways between the program and former defensive coordinator [autotag]Ted Roof[/autotag] and the hiring of his replacement, [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag].

On the field, the Sooners have plenty of experienced talent returning on the defensive side of the ball. The secondary is led by [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] at safety and [autotag]Woodi Washington[/autotag] at cornerback, but features plenty of young talent as well.

[autotag]Gentry Williams[/autotag] and [autotag]Kani Walker[/autotag] will battle for the spot opposite of Washington. [autotag]Robert Spears-Jennings[/autotag] and [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] will see an increase in snaps this year with the departures of [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag] and [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag].

The defensive line sees some change but still has [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] leading the way up front. [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] and [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag] are veterans who will aid in the development of younger players like [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Adepoju Adebawroe[/autotag] and [autotag]David Stone[/autotag]. The defensive line is in a solid place moving forward even after losing [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag], [autotag]Isaiah Coe[/autotag], [autotag]Jonah Laulu[/autotag] and [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag]. The Sooners also saw [autotag]Jermayne Lole[/autotag] flip his commitment from OU to Texas in the spring portal window.

The strength of the defense is the talent and depth at linebacker. At the inside spots, [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] returns as the heart and soul of the unit. [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag], [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag], [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] and [autotag]Lewis Carter[/autotag] will all see plenty of snaps alongside Stutsman. The loss of [autotag]Justin Harrington[/autotag] at the cheetah position stings, but [autotag]Kendel Dolby[/autotag], [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag] and [autotag]Samuel Omosigho[/autotag] provide Alley will plenty of options at that spot.

The Sooners open with an 88 overall defense in “College Football 25,” tied with Texas, Penn State, Utah, Florida State and Iowa.

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Sooners defender considered NFL draft gem by CBS Sports

Which Oklahoma Sooners defender does CBS Sports consider a hidden gem for the 2025 NFL draft?

The Oklahoma Sooners have one of the more experienced defenses in the country heading into 2024. The Sooners rank eighth in the nation in ESPN’s returning production metric.

Much of the focus when it comes to the Sooners’ defense is on [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], and deservedly so. They bring a lot of experience and talent to the table. They’ll play one more season with the Sooners and head to the NFL draft in 2025. With what they did in 2023 and what they’re capable of doing in 2024, there’s a good chance they’ll hear their names called in the top 100 of the draft.

But they aren’t the only players that will get drafted. Over at CBS Sports, Blake Brockermayer chose one hidden gem from each top 25 team ahead of 2024. For the Oklahoma Sooners, Fornelli chose defensive end [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag].

Downs has been a disruptive force off the edge, starting 25 games the last two seasons. He’s a high-effort player who can turn the edge and harass quarterbacks as well as hold up in the run game. – Brockermayer, CBS Sports

Downs has back-to-back seasons with 4.5 sacks and has 20 tackles for loss over the last two seasons. Projected to start at one of the defensive end spots in year three of Brent Venables’ defense, Downs could see an uptick in his production.

He’s a do-it-all defensive end who does a fantastic job playing the run and is continually improving as a pass rusher. With another year of experience, he has a chance to solidify himself as a draftable prospect next April.

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Lincoln Riley’s remaining 2021 4-Stars shining under Brent Venables

Oklahoma has four 4-star prospects remaining from the 2021 recruiting class and though they may be Lincoln Riley recruits, they’re now Brent Venables’ guys.

A lot has been made of the difference in recruiting at the University of Oklahoma since [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has taken over. The Sooners have had three top 10 classes during Venables’ tenure. The biggest difference might be on the defensive side of the ball, where Oklahoma’s added three five-star prospects in the last two cycles in [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag], [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag], and [autotag]David Stone[/autotag].

Despite the transition from [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag] to [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] and now [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag], the Sooners have remained adept at recruiting blue-chip offensive talent as well.

While recruiting has certainly seen an uptick, Oklahoma’s going to rely on four players from Riley’s final recruiting class in 2021 to lead the way. But at this point it’s safe to say these are Venables’ guys.

From a signing class headlined by [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], [autotag]Jalil Farooq[/autotag], and [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] are leading the way for the Sooners in 2024.

Bowman, Downs, and Stutsman weren’t recruited by Venables, but they hung with the defensive-minded head coach after he took over in December of 2021. All three were instrumental in Oklahoma’s year-to-year turnaround from 2022 to 2023. Though the three defensive stars are on their third defensive coordinator in four seasons, they remain committed to the vision laid out by Venables and his staff. And each has shown improvement each season under their head coach.

More: Recent USC decommitments further validate Oklahoma’s recruiting strategy

Farooq, who had a strong relationship with Williams (they both played high school football in the DMV area on the East Coast), has stayed with the Sooners despite working with his third offensive play-caller and fourth position coach in four seasons.

In this modern era of college football, that many coaching changes would send any number of players into the transfer portal. Yet, they’ve become cornerstone players for Oklahoma and leaders as they enter the SEC. This group of players may have been recruited by Riley and his staff, but it’s clear Bowman, Downs, Farooq, and Stutsman are Venables’ guys.

“We’ve seen the best version of Jalil Farooq, which is what you want. Your best players, so to speak, to always be your best workers, best leaders,” Venables said during spring ball. “So far, through the first part of winter and spring, that’s what Jalil has been.”

Each has taken on a leadership role on and off the field for the Sooners. They’ve been reliable performers and each significantly contributed to Oklahoma’s 10-win season in 2023. In particular, all four guys had a big hand in the Sooners’ win over Texas.

Farooq led Oklahoma in receiving that day with five catches for 130 yards. He also had three carries for 13 yards and two kickoff returns for 37 yards. Downs had two sacks of Quinn Ewers against Texas’ vaunted offensive line. Bowman had 11 total tackles, separated Ja’Tavion Sanders from the football near the goalline leading to a [autotag]Kendal Dolby[/autotag] interception, and came up with a huge stop of Xavier Worthy on fourth and goal at the one-yard line. Stutsman had nine total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. Stutsman was an emotional leader on the day and also made a huge impact on Oklahoma’s legendary goal-line stand.

Bowman and Stutsman had opportunities to go to the NFL this offseason, but they took a big-picture approach to their playing careers and opted for one more season with the Sooners. Downs and Farooq have done nothing but improve during their time under Venables, and both players will look to build upon the strong seasons they had a year ago.

As much as the transfer portal will provide an influx of talent, the Sooners want to build through the high school recruiting ranks. In a developmental game, the four four-star prospects from the 2021 recruiting class are an example of loyalty and trusting the process.

As the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for their first season in the SEC, Jalil Farooq, Ethan Downs, Billy Bowman, and Danny Stutsman will lead the way.

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Trace Ford brings much-needed experience to Oklahoma’s defensive line

Trace Ford will step into a leadership role in his second season as a Sooner.

The Oklahoma Sooners return plenty of experience on the defensive side of the ball in 2024. However, most of it comes at the linebacker position and in the secondary.

Defensive line is a different story for OU entering Year 3 under head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. While there is some experience in the trenches with Ethan Downs and Da’Jon Terry, a number of new faces will have to get acclimated to [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag]’ and [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag]’ way of doing things.

Oklahoma lost standout performers [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], [autotag]Jonah Laulu[/autotag], [autotag]Isaiah Coe[/autotag], [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag]. The veterans were crucial to last year’s step forward up front.

Each of those players were redshirt seniors, and all but Lacey ran out of eligibility. Lacey was forced to medically retire prior to spring football.

But another redshirt senior, [autotag]Trace Ford[/autotag], decided to return for his second season in Norman. He’ll step into more of a leadership role as OU moves from the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] to the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

Ford isn’t the most experienced player on the D-line for the Sooners (that would be Downs). He may not be a starter at his defensive end position (it’ll likely be [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag] opposite Downs). But, his experience in college football will be extremely valuable for the bevy of talented true freshmen that Chavis and Bates brought in. As a former transfer, he’ll also be a resource for the younger transfer portal additions, such as [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag].

Ford played mostly in a reserve role last year on a crowded defensive line. After transferring from Oklahoma State following 8 1/2 sacks in three seasons, he had 18 tackles last year for the Sooners. He also snagged one interception against Tulsa.

Modest stats, sure, but Oklahoma is entering a conference where the trenches are the difference between winning and losing games. Teams that are strong up front and have the athletes to get the job done, typically win in the SEC. The teams that don’t get swallowed up and exposed quickly.

The offensive line remains a question mark for the Sooners, but the defensive line is an area to watch after a lot of player movement since this winter. Having a player like Ford, who provides depth and experience, can only serve to help OU the deeper they get into the season.

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