Tag: Rondell Bothroyd

Oklahoma among Hearland College Sports top 5 Big 12 defensive lines

The Oklahoma Sooners defensive line was included among Heartland College Sports top five units in the Big 12 heading into 2023.

The Oklahoma Sooners coaching staff has worked since January on improving a defensive line that was so poor a year ago.

The Sooners lacked depth, talent, and athleticism in all areas of the defensive line which resulted in having one of the worst run defenses in the country and a pass rush that couldn’t get home in 2022.

But things look to be changing in Norman after adding five-star P.J. Adebawore and transfers Rondell Bothroyd, Da’Jon Terry, Davon Sears, Phil Paea, Trace Ford, and Jacob Lacey.

With those additions in mind, Heartland College Sports’ Bryan Clinton put the Sooners’ defensive line No. 3 in the Big 12 behind the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Texas Longhorns.

Among many issues that the Sooners faced defensively in 2022, the defensive line just wasn’t good enough down the stretch. OU allowed 212.6 ypg rushing in Big 12 play, and ranked dead last in the conference in sacks, with 13 in Big 12 play. So, how is Oklahoma third on our list? An absolute haul in the transfer portal. Brent Venables added six defensive linemen from the portal, all of which are projected to make a major impact on the unit: DE Trace Ford (Oklahoma State), DT Davon Sears (Texas State), DT DaJon Terry (Tennessee), DE Rondell Bothroyd (Wake Forest), DT Jacob Lacey (Notre Dame), and DT Phillip Paea (Utah State). The Sooners also add five-star true freshman DE P.J. Adeboware and expect big things from returnees like Jonah Laulu, Ethan Downs, and R Mason Thomas. This unit it lightyears ahead of where it was a season ago, and we expect it to be one of the most productive DL units in the Big 12. – Clinton, Heartland Sports

While I think the additions are big and will lead to a better defensive line, I don’t know if I would rank them that high just yet.

They have to prove it on the field because right now, I don’t know if they have any game-changers. I’m high on R Mason Thomas and Adebawore, but they are both unproven guys.

At defensive tackle, they have a lot more depth than last year, but is it quality depth? I think you’ll see four or five guys rotate in there and not see much of a drop-off.

No one is elite, but at least some consistency should help the run defense. Could a guy like Gracen Halton emerge to be a difference maker against the run and as a pass rusher? Can guys like Jordan Kelley and Isaiah Coe take the next step in their development? 

This is a defensive line that should feast on a poor offensive line and at least hold up to better offensive lines. Something that should lead to a much-improved defensive side of the ball in 2023.

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5 Oklahoma Sooners who could make All-Big 12 first team in 2023

Prior to Big 12 media days, the conference released the preseason All-Big 12 team as voted on by the media. What 5 Sooners that weren’t included could earn postseason honors?

The Big 12 released its All-Big 12 preseason teams just a few weeks ago and only one Oklahoma Sooner made the list, defensive end Ethan Downs.

Three Sooners made the All-Big 12 first team after their 2022 seasons; [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] Jr., [autotag]Anton Harrison[/autotag], and [autotag]Michael Turk[/autotag]. The only player to make the All-Big 12 preseason team last summer was Turk.

That has us thinking, who are some of the players that have a chance to make the All-Big 12 first team when the season ends that wasn’t a preseason selection?

From improvements defensively to question marks across the league, there are several candidates who could play themselves into postseason honors.

But for this list, I’ve only chosen five.

‘I expect great things’: Brent Venables a believer in Danny Stutsman ahead of 2023

Speaking at Big 12 media days, Brent Venables shared his excitement for junior linebacker Danny Stutsman.

The Oklahoma Sooners have to get better on defense in 2023. For them to reach their goals, it starts by improving a defense that finished 122nd in the nation in total defense and 99th in scoring defense.

Part of the issue that Oklahoma’s defense faced in 2022 was a lack of depth. No player played more than linebacker Danny Stutsman.

Oklahoma took steps to improve the defense and add depth ahead of their final season in the Big 12 with key transfer portal additions. But in addition to bringing in [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag], and a number of others, [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] is banking on the development of his team.

In particular, the Sooners head coach has been pleased with how junior linebacker [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] has progressed since his arrival in December of 2021.

“Danny would be the first one to admit that 17 months ago, he wasn’t capable of leading, and he’s in a much different place now,” Venables said at Big 12 media days. “The whole team follows Danny, his emotion, his work, his action. He’s a doer and a giver.”

Stutsman led the Big 12 in tackles and in Pro Football Focus’ stops metric, which considers where the tackle was made in relation to the down and distance. Stutsman had more stops than anyone in the Big 12. it’s easy to forget that it was just Stutsman’s first season as a starter in Oklahoma’s defense after playing a rotational role as a true freshman for Alex Grinch in 2021.

While most rising sophomores get to work on their craft in a defense they are becoming accustomed to, Stutsman had to learn a new scheme with Brent Venables taking over as the head coach. Though 2022 was rough for the defense as a whole, Stutsman, and others, showed flashes throughout the season to provide optimism about what he and the defense can be in 2023.

With several new faces expected to play key roles in Oklahoma’s defense, Stutsman’s leadership and his maturation will play a critical role.

“I love the maturation that’s taking place with him off the field as much as on the field,” Venables said. “His seriousness, his commitment to excellence every day. He’s put the team and the expectations on his back, and I love that.

“A year ago at this time, he couldn’t run a player-run practice. He couldn’t run a player-run walk-through. He wasn’t equipped to do that. I think that’s a reflection of a lot of guys on our team.”

Stutsman’s growth as a player and a leader will be central to Oklahoma’s success in 2023.

“I expect great things from Danny,” Venables said. “He’s long. He’s athletic. He plays fast. He closes to the ball. He’s got tremendous contact speed. He’s got tremendous instincts, got great toughness. He’s worked incredibly hard for the ’23 season. Really excited to see Danny and where he’s at this year.”

And if Danny Stutsman is able to live up to his coach’s expectations in his second year as a starter, it will go a long way to helping the Oklahoma Sooners take a big step defensively in 2023.

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‘A great opportunity for the new guys’: Brent Venables excited about Sooners despite turnover

Despite a big roster turnover in their first year and a half, Brent Venables is feeling good about Oklahoma’s competitive depth.

The last 20 months in Norman have seen a coaching staff overhaul that led to roster turnover that highlights much of what college athletics has become.

The transfer portal, graduation and the NFL draft lead to turnover every year. After a coaching change, that turnover is exaggerated.

“We’ve had tremendous turnover, like a lot of people in this day and age of college football,” Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables said at Big 12 media days. “Like many people, there’s been tremendous roster turnover. We desire a roster of stability and consistency. I think that’s what lends to success and sustainability.”

[autotag]Venables[/autotag] relayed that 78.8% of his roster is in the first or second year with the program.

“We’ve got 123 players on team 129, and out of those 123 players, 97 of them will be in either their first or their second year at the University of Oklahoma,” Venables said. “Tremendous turnover, but I couldn’t be more excited about the group of guys.”

Venables added, “To me I look at it as a great opportunity for the new guys.”

Oklahoma’s banking on a lot of those new guys being significant contributors to the team’s success in 2023. As the transfer additions go, so likely will the Sooners’ Big 12 title aspirations.

Defensive additions [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag] and [autotag]Konnor Near[/autotag] are each expected to have big roles for Oklahoma this season.

“And then the addition – again, we’ve got nine guys, six guys up front, two All-American linebackers, a hard-hitting safety in [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag].” Venables said. “I believe we’ll be better up the middle of our defense, and I look at where we were at really at every single position, and we didn’t have the competitive depth a year ago.”

In particular, the lack of defensive depth was staggering.

At linebacker, the Sooners’ trio of [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]David Ugwoegbu[/autotag], and [autotag]DaShaun White[/autotag] each played over 900 snaps. Only two players in Football Bowl Subdivision played more snaps than Stutsman. Adding depth at linebacker with McCullough and Near was critical. Their 2022 and 2023 linebacker signees add to that depth.

The 2022 guys have been in the program for more than a year now. [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag], [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag] and [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] will have bigger roles this season for the Sooners, which will help their linebacker play be better.

Tackle [autotag]Walter Rouse[/autotag] and tight end [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag] should start on the offensive side of the ball. Guard [autotag]Caleb Shaffer[/autotag], wide receivers [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] and [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag], and defensive tackles [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag], [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] and [autotag]Phillip Paea[/autotag] are expected to compete for playing time.

The Sooners’ 2023 recruiting class could have guys be early X-factors on the field this season. At cornerback, [autotag]Jasaiah Wagoner[/autotag] and [autotag]Makari Vickers[/autotag] have been turning heads. The drumbeat for Peyton Bowen hasn’t slowed. [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag] has turned heads with his speed despite being on campus only a month or two.

“It goes without saying, we went 6-7 last year and fell well below our expectations and our standards at Oklahoma,” shared Venables. “But man, we learned and grew a lot as a football program. In five of the seven losses, it goes down to the last minute, two minutes of the game in the fourth quarter with a chance to win.

“We started the year pretty strong, and then we didn’t finish the year very well, particularly in, again, those fourth quarters of a bunch of games. We just didn’t have any juice left about the middle of the year on. The competitive depth will lead to better competitive stamina.”

The Sooners are hoping the improved competitive depth will lead to a more competitive defense that’s able to help close games for a team with lofty expectations.

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Oklahoma’s defense among 247Sports most improved units heading into 2023

The Oklahoma Sooners were included among 247Sports most improved units heading into the 2023 season.

Last year you couldn’t get much worse than the product Oklahoma put on the field defensively.

The Sooners ranked 122nd out of 131 teams in total defense. Part of that was because of how many snaps they played due to the offense going up-tempo and having several three-and-outs but also just because of poor play.

The Sooners did show signs of what they could become. Go back and watch the first three games, the Bedlam game, and the first half against West Virginia , and you can see what this defense can become.

But ultimately, they have to put it together. 247Sports included the Oklahoma defense among their most improved units ahead of 2023.

Oklahoma had major struggles on defense last season and second-year coach Brent Venables used his roster-building tactics to avoid a similar fate. Through the transfer portal, the Sooners added four defensive linemen, two linebackers and one defensive back. Oklahoma also excelled through high school recruiting, landing a couple five-stars in EDGE Adepoju Adebawore and safety Peyton Bowen. They also brought in four-star safety Makari Vickers, cornerback Jasiah Wagoner and JUCO product Kendel Dolby. – 247Sports’ Raymond Lucas Jr.

There’s no doubt the Sooners saw areas of need and attacked them in the transfer portal. However, it’s not realistic to expect a complete turnaround.

Combine the new additions with a year in the system, and there should be a lot of improvements made.

Can Oklahoma get into the 60-80 range in total defense? It’s definitely possible. It needs to happen if they want to get where this team feels it can, back to the Big 12 title game.

The secondary has a chance to be the best unit on the team. The linebacker position, while not deep, should see a big jump in speed and athleticism with [autotag]Jaren Kanak[/autotag], [autotag]Kobie McKinzie[/autotag], and [autotag]Kip Lewis[/autotag] taking on more significant roles alongside [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag]. The defensive line should be improved with the addition of [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag] and the further development of guys like [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag], [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag], [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag], and [autotag]Isaiah Coe[/autotag].

I expect a nice jump defensively where we see more consistent play and consistent signs of what the defense can be. They will still have their duds and have poor games, but overall it should be and needs to be more consistent.

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Ethan Downs named to Big-12 preseason all-conference team

In preparation for that, the Big 12 released its preseason all-conference team and like last year, only one Sooner made the list. This time it was defensive lineman Ethan Downs.

We are just a few days until Big 12 Media Days get underway in Arlington, Texas.

In preparation for that, the Big 12 released its preseason all-conference team and like last year, only one Sooner made the list. This time it was defensive lineman Ethan Downs.

Downs was named by the conference as a second-team all-Big 12 member last season and third team by Pro Football Focus.

He received a 78.2 grade by PFF ranking third at his position. But Downs like many of the Sooners had an up-and-down season. He seemed to really come along at the end of the year with seven of his 13.5 tackles for loss coming in three of his final four games.

He also had two of his team-leading 4.5 sacks in three of the final four games as well. He was 10th in the Big 12 in pressures among edge rushers, but he finished fourth in the conference in stops at the position.

He’s kind of been the forgotten man in the defensive end room with the emergency of R Mason Thomas, signing PJ Adebawore, and adding Rondell Bothroyd and Trace Ford in the portal.

There’s no doubt that Oklahoma has a lot more depth this year than they did last year so if Downs is up and down again, he will see his snaps start to diminish.

But if he can build upon how he ended the season, then being a first-team all-Big 12 is definitely in the cards.

He could also end up being a guy who plays a lot when they go with three down linemen but doesn’t play as much when they go with four down linemen.

That is still to be determined but if he’s more consistent, it will be hard to keep him off of the field.

5 reasons to be confident in the 2023 Oklahoma Sooners

Though there are certainly questions that still need to be answered, here are five reasons to be optimistic about the 2023 Oklahoma Sooners.

Just about two months away from the start of the 2023 college football season, there are few teams without question marks on the roster.  The Oklahoma Sooners are no different.

But instead of focusing on the unsolved mysteries with the Sooners ahead of fall camp, let’s take a look at some of the reasons to feel optimistic about Oklahoma football heading into its final season in the Big 12 in 2023.

Oklahoma’s defense among most improved units in the nation

Heading into the 2023 season the Oklahoma Sooners defense is among the most improved units in the nation.

How far the Oklahoma Sooners go in 2023 will depend on the Oklahoma Sooners’ defense. The offense has to improve. Of that, there is no doubt. But if the defense doesn’t take drastic steps toward improvement, another average season is in the cards for the Sooners.

Brent Venables and his coaching staff exited the 2022 season with no misconception about how much the defense had to improve in 2023. They attacked the transfer portal and landed some of the best defensive players available to infuse talent and experience into a unit that was one of the worst last year.

[autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag] and [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag] figure to be immediate impact players out of the portal. All three will either start or play significant snaps for a defense that didn’t have a lot of depth last year.

Additionally, [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] and [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] will enter their second year as starters for the Sooners.

The growth and the development of the defense in addition to the transfer additions has the Sooners trending in a much better direction defensively. Will Backus of CBS Sports tends to agree. Backus included the Oklahoma Sooners among his most improved units heading into the 2023 season.

It almost has to be better, right? For a defense under [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ leadership, Oklahoma’s performance last season was appalling. There’s no questioning the talent, though. The Sooners have recruited really well recently, and even after [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag] bolted, the cabinet was still fairly stocked. Venables also leaned heavily on the transfer portal to plug any holes and primarily addressing Oklahoma’s biggest defensive worry: the pass rush. The Sooners managed just 28 sacks as a team last season, which ranked 64th nationally. Adding difference-makers like (Dasan) McCullough and (Rondell) Bothroyd — who would have led the Sooners in 2022 with his six sacks — will go a long way toward fixing that. Pair those two with the likes of Ford — who should see a return to form after a couple of injury-plagued seasons — and returning stars like [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] and [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag], and the Sooners should have a pretty imposing front.  – Backus, CBS Sports

If the Sooners can make a substantial jump in performance this year, the Sooners will fulfill Brent Venables’ optimism that this team can win 10 games and have a chance to hang a banner at the end of the year.

Despite the turnover on offense, the defense’s performance will be the key to Oklahoma’s success in 2023.

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Oklahoma’s defensive line needs to make a significant jump in 2023

For the Sooners to improve defensively in 2023, Oklahoma’s defensive line will have to make significant improvements.

It’s no secret a big reason the Oklahoma Sooners didn’t achieve what they wanted to last year was the defense. The Sooners finished 106th in run defense, 119th in pass defense and 122nd in total defense.

A big reason those numbers were so horrific was how poor the defensive line was last season. It couldn’t generate a pass rush, and it struggled to get off blocks and make stops in the run game.

It’s clear the staff recognized the issues from last year and attacked the transfer portal, hoping to improve the defensive front. The big priority over the last few recruiting classes has been to add blue-chip defensive linemen.

The Sooners added six players from the transfer portal: Jacob Lacey, Trace Ford, Davon Sears, Rondell Bothroyd, Da’Jon Terry and Phillip Paea. Throw in Dasan McCullough, who played edge for Indiana in 2022, and the Sooners made a concerted effort to add players that can affect the running game and get to the quarterback.

Each of those additions should contribute this year, and a few might even start. The transfer portal is not the only place where the Sooners added talent. They also added five-star P.J. Adebawore.

He might not be a starter immediately, but he has the potential to start by the season’s end. The team also returns starters Isaiah Coe, Ethan Downs and Reggie Grimes.

A guy that played quite a bit last season as a true freshman and is poised for a breakout season is R Mason Thomas. He’s added weight and appears to have kept his speed and twitch.

The starting defensive line could be Thomas, Coe, Terry and Bothroyd when the Sooners deploy four-man fronts. When they go with a three-man front, it could be Thomas or Downs, Terry and Bothroyd until Adebawore becomes more comfortable.

There’s no doubt the Sooners needed to upgrade the defensive line. Now we’ll see if the results follow.

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Oklahoma Sooners top 15 in ESPN’s future college football power rankings

The Oklahoma Sooners have a bright future ahead coming off of a 6-7 season and were included in the top 15 of ESPN’s future rankings.

The future is bright in Norman, Oklahoma. Armed with a pair of top-10 recruiting classes, Brent Venables has the Sooners on the right track despite a 6-7 season in his first year at the helm.

What they’ve been able to do on the recruiting trail and how the Sooners are positioning themselves in the 2024 recruiting class have many optimistic and, dare I say, excited about the Sooners’ future under Brent Venables.

Though it’s perhaps a step back from where they were in previous iterations of ESPN’s future power rankings (ESPN+), Adam Rittenberg still has the Sooners in the top 15, coming in at No. 12.

Oklahoma has been a top-10 mainstay in these rankings, especially during a run of six consecutive conference titles and four CFP appearances between 2015 and 2020. But the Sooners haven’t won the Big 12 or made the CFP the past two seasons. They come off of their first losing season since 1998. They’re also SEC bound in 2024, a move that will test their efforts in recruiting, coaching and development. Coach Brent Venables is one of the sport’s best defensive strategists and talent evaluators. He must restore OU’s edge on defense, which diminished during Riley’s otherwise spectacular tenure. – Rittenberg, ESPN

Brent Venables and his staff have worked tirelessly to improve the talent on the defensive side of the ball after a transition year in 2022. Oklahoma added a number of blue-chip prospects in their 2022 and 2023 recruiting classes and looks headed toward another strong defensive class in 2024.

Because it will take time for Venables’ talented defensive signees to become the foundation of his defense, he’s attacked the transfer portal to add instant impact defenders like [autotag]Dasan McCullough[/autotag], [autotag]Rondell Bothroyd[/autotag], [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag], and a number of defensive tackles. The defense should be better this year, and if it is, Oklahoma will have a chance to return to the Big 12 title game in 2023.

Offensively, Dillon Gabriel leads the way for an Oklahoma offense that was pretty good in 2022, averaging 32 points per game. Beyond this season, the future remains bright, with [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] expected to take over in 2024, the Sooners’ first season in the SEC.

In addition to Arnold, Oklahoma added several blue-chip prospects to keep Jeff Lebby’s offense humming beyond 2023. Cayden Green has a real shot to start as a true freshman and [autotag]Jaquaize Pettaway[/autotag]’s speed gives him a chance to see the field early in his career despite being a summer enrollee.

In the portal, Oklahoma looked to add big-play threats with the additions of [autotag]Andrel Anthony[/autotag] and [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] to go along with a steady veteran at tight end in [autotag]Austin Stogne[/autotag]r.

Oklahoma’s offensive line will be in great shape under [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] despite the loss of three starters to the NFL. Between the transfer portal and the players they have returning from last year, the Sooners will once again have one of the better offensive lines in football in 2023 and for years to come.

While 6-7 was a disappointment, it was just year one of Brent Venables’ tenure. Sometimes there has to be a pruning period before you can begin to bear fruit. Oklahoma’s on the right track. If their work on the recruiting trail over the last year and a half is any indication, he’ll have Oklahoma back in the mix for the Big 12 title in 2023 and contending for the College Football Playoff even after they make their move to the SEC.

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