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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