Tag: Todd Bates

What can we expect from Seth Littrell’s offense in 2024?

Seth Littrell’s background could lend a few clues as to what OU’s offense might look like in 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners begin the 2024 college football season in a matter of days. The Temple Owls will pay them a visit on Friday, August 30 at 6:00 p.m. to kick off the year.

It’s a season of change for OU in Year 3 under head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]. The Sooners leave the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] to join the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], who started at quarterback for the last two seasons, transferred out of the program, leaving sophomore [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] in line to take over under center. [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] won’t be on the team for the first time since 2018.

Venables is also breaking in new coordinators.

[autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] takes over the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach role previously held by [autotag]Ted Roof[/autotag], who mutually parted ways with Oklahoma last winter.

Alley has been called a “clone of Venables” and allows the head coach to be a bit more of a CEO-type, not needing to focus on calling defensive plays nearly as much. Alley has gained Venables’ trust. Venables defensive acumen is the main reason he was hired as OU’s next head coach. Passing the defensive coordinator responsibilities over to Alley is a ringing endorsement of the young defensive mind. Experienced defensive assistant coaches and co-coordinators [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] and [autotag]Jay Valai[/autotag] will be able to help the younger Alley out as well.

[autotag]Doug Deakin[/autotag] replaces [autotag]Jay Nunez[/autotag] as the special teams analyst. Deakin will be charged with improving the Sooners in all facets of the special teams portion of the game, as it was a weakness in 2023 for Oklahoma. New NCAA rules removed limits to the number of coaches allowed to be on the field during practice and games. That should help the Sooners have a much better special teams unit. Oklahoma can’t afford to have special teams lose a game for them in the treacherous jungle of the SEC.

Oklahoma saw offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] leave in late November to become the head coach at Mississippi State. Immediately, the search for his replacement started, and Venables landed on co-offensive coordinators already in the building for the role.

[autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag] had been the tight ends coach at OU for the past three seasons. Finley is very close with Lebby, as the pair also worked together at Baylor (2015) and Ole Miss (2020) before spending the last two seasons together in Norman.

Some were surprised when Finley didn’t follow Lebby to Starkville, but the internal promotion for the former OU tight end (2004-2007) kept him at Oklahoma. Finley is also close with former Sooners quarterback and offensive coordinator [autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag], as the pair coached together at Missouri for two years (2016-2017).

Finley will continue to coach tight ends while serving as OU’s co-offensive coordinator. However, he won’t be calling the plays.

That duty will fall to [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag], who will serve as Oklahoma’s new quarterbacks coach in addition to the co-offensive coordinator role. He’ll be the one talking to Arnold in the helmet communication system that comes new to college football in 2024.

So what will Oklahoma’s offense look like in 2024, as Littrell replaces Lebby with Finley more heavily involved in the offensive game plan than in the past?

Littrell is an experienced playcaller and offensive coordinator, something Lebby wasn’t when he returned to Norman two years ago. Just like Lebby and Finley, Littrell played for Oklahoma during the [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag] days. He won a national championship in 2000 as a fullback at OU, serving as a captain on the national title team. It’s the same national title team with Venables as a co-defensive coordinator in Year 2 under Stoops. His father, Jimmy, also played fullback at OU and won two national championships in 1974 and 1975.

The Muskogee, Oklahoma native, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Kansas under former Oklahoma offensive coordinator Mark Mangino in 2002. After three years in Lawrence, he was hired to coach running backs at Texas Tech under Mike Leach, where he spent four seasons. In those seven years, Littrell learned under two of the best offensive minds in college football. He was tutored in the ways of the power running spread offense at KU under Mangino before learning the methods of the Air Raid under Leach in Lubbock.

Littrell coached in a variety of different roles on offense at Arizona during the final three years of Mike Stoops’ time as the head coach of the Wildcats from 2009 to 2011. In his first season in the desert, he learned under another Air Raid expert, Sonny Dykes, who is now the head coach at TCU.

In 2010, he was co-offensive coordinator with none other than current Oklahoma offensive line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag], and the two have a strong relationship. When Bedenbaugh left to coach the o-line at West Virgnia, Littrell was the solo offensive coordinator for the first time in his career in 2011. However, Stoops was fired midway through the season and Littrell was left looking for a new home after the year.

Littrell landed at Indiana, where he was the offensive coordinator for Kevin Wilson, the current head coach at Tulsa who served as OU’s offensive coordinator from 2002-2010. During his time in Norman, Wilson had combined Air Raid concepts with his own spread run game tactics. Oklahoma’s 2008 offense, under Wilson, is still regarded as one of the best in college football history.

After Littrell spent two years under Wilson, he accepted the offensive coordinator job at North Carolina under Larry Fedora, who ran the spread offense. In two seasons coaching for the Tar Heels, Littrell impressed and began to get head coaching consideration.

In 2016, Littrell was hired as the head coach of the North Texas Mean Green. He gave UNT more success than they had seen in years, making two conference title games and twice winning nine games. He was fired following the 2022 regular season despite posting a 7-6 mark and losing the Conference USA title game. His offenses at UNT were a blend of the concepts he learned under Air Raid coaches such as Leach and Dykes and spread coaches like Mangino, Wilson, and Fedora.

Littrell’s offense helped quarterback Mason Fine throw for 12,000 yards over four seasons. He averaged 3,644 yards and 30 total touchdowns per year over his final three seasons with the Mean Green.

Last season, Littrell served as an offensive analyst for the Sooners under another spread disciple in Lebby, before being promoted, along with Finley, for the Alamo Bowl.

As a play caller, he can use his unique path back to Norman to dial up whatever is needed at the time. His time in Denton also gave him a footprint and connections in a massive recruiting area for the Sooners.

In the interest of continuity, the offense will still look at lot like it has the past two seasons. The Sooners ran a variety of the veer-and-shoot spread offense that focuses on wide splits for receivers and getting playmakers the ball in space.

It looks and functions differently than the [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag] Air Raid offense that Sooner fans saw for seven seasons, but ultimately wants to accomplish a lot of the same things, namely lighting up the scoreboard.

The idea of the spread veer-and-shoot is to make defenses have to cover everything from sideline to sideline, opening up windows for the power running game while making the quarterback’s decision-making as easy as possible.

The primary reason to run the veer-and-shoot offense is that the tempo, aggressiveness, and wide splits help to raise the floor for your offense, regardless of talent level. Lebby learned the offense from pioneers like Wilson, Art Briles, Heupel and Lane Kiffin. Littrell learned under Lebby last season and will now be able to put his own personal spin on it.

Reportedly, more of a focus on the power running game and deep passing attack will be implemented this year, feeding off of this offensive core’s strengths. However, Littrell’s offenses at UNT threw more than they ran, so Arnold will still have plenty on his shoulders. Littrell’s relationship with Bedenbaugh should ensure the offensive line will be a big factor in what the Sooners want to do on offense. Their relationship should create more cohesion in the offensive philosophy.

Running the ball effectively will be critical in the SEC.

Continuity is a big reason why Littrell and Finley were promoted, but the offense won’t be exactly the same.

Littrell will be a different playcaller than Lebby was, just like Arnold is a different quarterback than Gabriel was. The key will be getting the two on the same page. Between the duo of Littrell and Finley (and passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach [autotag]Emmett Jones[/autotag]), the development of their young quarterback will be at the forefront of their minds. Arnold holds the keys to unlocking the offense and helping the Sooners become an elite college football team.

Furthermore, several assistant coaches from the Riley era still remain on offense: Finley, Bedenbaugh, and running backs coach [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag]. Littrell’s background in the Air Raid may shine through a few times this season, but the offense may look similar to what we’ve seen the last couple of seasons schematically.

At the end of the day, Littrell’s experience as a playcaller trumps his inexperience as a quarterbacks coach. At times last season, particularly in losses against Kansas and Oklahoma State, Lebby caught a fair share of the blame for his playcalling in critical moments.

Littrell has been through that already. He’s a versatile, well-traveled coach who won’t be in over his head, regardless of the situation.

Oklahoma has a good enough defense this year to keep them in games, especially early on, but the offense can’t lag too far behind. Littrell needs to find his sweet spot as a play caller in the spread veer-and-shoot before Tennessee (and veer-and-shoot expert Heupel) comes to town in late September.

Regardless of what Oklahoma’s offense looks like, it’ll be imperative that the Sooners are firing on all cylinder when the Volunteers come to town in week four.

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Pair of Sooners make ESPN’s list of top newcomers

The Sooners will be relying upon their portal class to help them win in 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners were very active in the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] this offseason. In both the winter and spring windows, head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] made key additions to the team at multiple different position groups.

Two OU players were highlighted by ESPN in their list of the Top 100 newcomers in college football (ESPN+). Staff writers Max Olson and Eli Lederman compiled the 100 best players in the sport who changed teams via the transfer portal or are incoming true freshmen.

Two Sooners made the list. The first was wide receiver and Purdue transfer [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag], the star of the spring. He committed to Venables and wide receivers coach [autotag]Emmett Jones[/autotag] in the winter portal window and will start at slot receiver in Norman. Here’s what Olson and Lederman had to say about Burks, the No. 14 player on their list.

Burks landed in the portal after a breakout sophomore season at Purdue that saw him record 47 catches for 629 yards and seven scores. He arrives at Oklahoma as another new face in the Sooners’ offense as [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] steps in under center and first-year offensive coordinator [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] takes charge. Burks is the complete wide receiver the Sooners were missing last fall after [autotag]Marvin Mims Jr.[/autotag] jumped to the NFL, and he should be a popular downfield choice for Arnold. – ESPN

The second player on the list was defensive tackle and TCU transfer [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag]. He committed during the spring portal window, representing a major [autotag]NIL[/autotag] win for Venables and defensive tackles coach [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag]. He’ll see plenty of time at nose tackle, along with [autotag]DJ Terry[/autotag], and will be counted upon to help the defensive line get to the next level.

A 27-game starter and a 2022 national runner-up at TCU, Williams’ transfer to Oklahoma filled a critical hole up the middle for the Sooners this offseason. Brent Venables’ defense enters the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] down five upperclassmen defensive tackles from last fall, and in the 6-foot-1, 319 pound Williams, Oklahoma gained needed size and experience at the position. He’ll start at nose tackle next to true freshman DT [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], a three-star signee who has earned high praise from Venables and his staff. Former Tennessee transfer Da’Jon Terry will feature heavily in the rotation, as could five-star freshman [autotag]David Stone[/autotag]. – ESPN

As Venables continues to rebuild the roster through both the portal and high school recruiting, he’ll be counting on players like Burks and Williams this season to help the Sooners try to contend in their new conference.

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How Zac Alley can unlock the Oklahoma Sooners defense

The Sooners hired Alley from Jacksonville State.

Oklahoma Sooners third-year head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] is replacing coordinators for every single unit in 2024. It’s a unique place to be, but OU fans are optimistic about the new hires.

On offense, [autotag]Jeff Lebby[/autotag] had been the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the past two seasons. When he took the head coaching job at Mississippi State in November, Venables chose to promote from within to replace Lebby, elevating offensive analyst [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] and tight ends coach [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag] to co-offensive coordinators. Littrell will serve as the quarterbacks coach and primary play caller, while Finley will have more input than before and will continue to coach tight ends. Wide receivers coach/passing game coordinator [autotag]Emmett Jones[/autotag] will also factor into the game planning throughout the week. He’s been nothing but stellar since showing up in Norman.

Former special teams analyst [autotag]Jay Nunez[/autotag] left to take a job at Alabama this offseason, leading to the hiring of [autotag]Doug Deakin[/autotag], formerly at San Diego State. Special teams play was a weak spot a season ago for the Sooners, and it must be better in the unforgiving SEC.

Former defensive coordinator/linebackers coach [autotag]Ted Roof[/autotag] and the Sooners mutually parted ways this winter, and Venables hired [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag] to replace him. Defensive tackles coach [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] and cornerbacks coach [autotag]Jay Valai[/autotag] will serve as co-defensive coordinators under Alley, two veterans who can help the younger coordinator.

While all of these moves have to work out for the Sooners to have success, Alley’s role is an interesting one as he arrives in Norman.

He spent eight years (2011-2018) as a student assistant and graduate assistant at Clemson, spending the final seven years under Venables, who was the defensive coordinator for the Tigers. A month after he was signed to be the nickel backs coach at Charlotte, he instead ended up coaching linebackers at Boise State, where he spent two seasons. Former Louisiana-Monroe head coach Terry Bowden hired Alley as his defensive coordinator, at the recommendation of Venables in 2021. After just one year at ULM, Jacksonville State head coach Rich Rodriguez tabbed Alley for the same role. He spent two seasons at JSU, helping the Gamecocks make the move from FCS to FBS in 2023.

Now, Alley steps into a much larger role; defensive coordinator at Oklahoma. His style is extremely similar to Venables’ himself, having spent seven of his 13 seasons in coaching under his leadership. He’s been called a clone of Venables, as his mannerisms and attitude closely reflect those of OU’s head coach. The team posted a recent video on social media that features Alley, and it’s tough to differentiate his voice from Venables’

Make no mistake about it: the Sooners will be running Brent Venables’ schemes, concepts, and formations on defense for as long as he’s in Norman. Venables was hired in December of 2021, in part because of his defensive acumen, in addition to his previous ties to the program. It’s his defense, but having someone he fully trusts as the defensive coordinator and play caller unlocks what Oklahoma can be as a team.

Alley’s presence and Venables’ comfort level allows the head coach to focus on every aspect of the game instead of having to be so hands-on with the defensive playcalling. It’s an area that improved last year for the Sooners, but still has room to improve.

Venables will likely never be a true “CEO-type” head coach. He’s got too much enthusiasm, energy, and knowledge to sit back and watch the defense. It’s something that he shouldn’t change, as players, recruits, parents, fans, and fellow coaches love that about him. However, there is still room for improvement for Venables when it comes to managing the game within the game. Understandable for someone who has only been a head coach for 26 games in his career.

Oklahoma went 0-5 in one-score games in 2022, improving to 3-2 in that stat in 2023. There will likely be more one-score games as the Sooners make the move to the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Though it’s clearly somewhere OU has gotten better, there were two costly losses in that department last year. Losses against Kansas and Oklahoma State came right down to the wire, and mistakes on offense, defense, and special teams cost the Sooners a trip to the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] Championship game and maybe more.

Though Venables should still have the final say on a crucial defensive moment, having someone who sees the game the same way and has a similar thought process about defense will be very beneficial throughout the season.

In fact, looking at the championship-winning coaches in recent years in college football, they’ve had a similar model to what Oklahoma has now, delegating play-calling duties in their area of expertise to focus on being a head coach.

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban is one of the best defensive minds the sport has ever seen. Yet, he always had a defensive coordinator calling the plays, and he trusted his assistant coach. One of them, Georgia‘s Kirby Smart, has the same model, leading to two out of the last three national titles landing in Athens.

In fact, the last head coach to call plays in his area of expertise and win the title was Jimbo Fisher, who won it all at Florida State in 2013, a decade ago. Fisher eventually landed at Texas A&M, flaming out late last season. It wasn’t until 2023 that he ceded offensive play-calling duties for the first time, but it wasn’t enough to save his job.

What those coaches have achieved in recent years is what Brent Venables hopes to bring back to Oklahoma. His former boss [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag] followed this model as well, and became a legend in Norman, trusting in his defensive coordinator(s). Hiring Zac Alley to be his defensive coordinator and fully trusting him to call the plays so that Venables can oversee everything that’s going on during the game could unlock the Sooners’ defense and maybe the entire program as a whole.

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College Football experts say Sooners freshman DT has a chance to start

Could a freshman defensive tackle be on the verge of starting for the Oklahoma Sooners?

The Oklahoma Sooners worked overtime to reestablish a defensive culture over the last several years. In particular, head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], co-defensive coordinator and defensive tackles coach [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] and defensive ends coach [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag] made improving the defensive line a top priority.

In their first two recruiting classes (2022, 2023), they made splashes, adding four-star prospects [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag] and [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag] (2022) and five-star defensive end [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag]. But the big recruiting win came in the 2024 recruiting class when they added five blue-chip prospects: [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag], [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag].

There’s a great deal of excitement about the defensive line that’s been put together, but it can be challenging to make the jump from high school football to playing in the SEC. A pair of college football experts believe one of those true freshmen could start up front for the Venables and [autotag]Zac Alley[/autotag]’s defense.

On a recent episode of “The Oklahoma Breakdown” with Sooners legends [autotag]Teddy Lehman[/autotag] and [autotag]Gabe Ikard[/autotag], the duo was asked what they thought the starting offensive and defensive lines would look like for Week 1. Lehman mentioned Jackson could start.

“Well I think defensive line, right now, I would say it’s probably going to be [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag]. Then, between [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] and [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag], I would probably say I slightly lean toward [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag].”

Ikard said he considered Williams, Jackson and Terry to all be “starters,” with [autotag]Gracen Halton[/autotag], [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] and [autotag]Davon Sears[/autotag] working in rotation roles for the Sooners.

There have been reports Jackson has been having a great camp, continuing the upward trajectory in his development over the last few years. The former IMG Academy prospect had a number of offers out of high school. With his unique blend of size, strength and quickness, Jackson has a chance to be a three-down defensive tackle, making an impact against the run and on passing downs. He plays with really good leverage, and his first step is special. He’s disruptive and does a great job holding his spot when double-teamed.

The Sooners upgraded their defensive tackle room significantly this offseason by adding transfer Damonic Williams. While the hope was their 2024 signees would make an impact, the possibility of Jackson starting signals the potential the class offers in 2024 and beyond.

Along with Williams and Jackson, both Ikard and Lehman agreed [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag] and [autotag]R Mason Thomas[/autotag] would be the starting defensive ends for the Sooners Week 1 against Temple.

Downs has been the foundation of the Sooners defensive line over the last few years. His consistent ability as a pass rusher and run defender makes him invaluable along the defensive line. Entering his fourth season, the veteran will lead the way for the Sooners.

Thomas has special athleticism. Injuries have kept him from making a consistent impact, but when he’s been on the field, he’s flashed immense potential. If he can stay healthy this season, he’ll flirt with eight sacks.

The Sooners defensive line is better than what it was a year ago when they improved in short-yardage situations and really across the board. Now it’s only a matter of seeing how much better the defense will be as a whole with an improved unit up front.

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Sooners duo named to ESPN’s true freshman All-America team

A pair of Oklahoma Sooners made ESPN’s list of the best true freshmen in the nation.

The Oklahoma Sooners kick off their 2024 season in less than two weeks. Talking season is almost over, and fall camps are beginning to wrap up across the country.

But before the season begins, ESPN unveiled their true freshmen All-America team (ESPN+). All of the players included were high schoolers last year and members of the [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag].

OU had two players make the team: offensive lineman [autotag]Eugene Brooks[/autotag] and defensive tackle [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag].

Brooks was the No. 145 player in ESPN’s 300 rankings coming out of high school. Here’s what ESPN staff writer Tom Luginbill had to say about the young offensive lineman.

Brooks is currently running with the second team at guard. The former Under Armour All-American has had his ups and downs during training camp, but he has also shed close to 60 pounds off his frame to help aid his quickness and agility. With that type of discipline and work ethic, clearly Brooks is serious about getting on the field this fall. – Luginbill, ESPN

Brooks was a solid acquisition for offensive line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] in the most recent class out of Sierra Canyon High School in California. 247Sports ranked him as a four-star prospect and their third-ranked interior offensive lineman.

Brooks isn’t in line to start in 2024, but he represents part of the future of the offensive line that has been a major talking point this offseason. While the Sooners had to replace the entire unit with some portal additions this offseason for 2024, it will be paramount to recruit and develop players on the o-line, especially heading into the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

Jackson was just a three-star prospect coming out of high school, according to ESPN, but has a chance to be special in Norman.

Jackson started the Oklahoma spring game but likely will be in the rotation at defensive tackle with fellow freshman [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], among others. With the move to the SEC, Oklahoma needs upgraded defensive front personnel, and Jackson has impressed. He will need to grow up quickly as the rise in the level of competition in the trenches from the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] to the SEC will be steep. – Luginbill, ESPN

Jackson was part of an excellent 2024 defensive line haul by defensive tackles coach [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] and defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis. He hails from IMG Academy and was the 23rd-best player in the state of Florida, according to 247Sports. He was extremely impressive in the spring, and like Brooks on the other side of the ball, he won’t be starting right away, but he represents part of the defensive line’s future.

He’s been one of the standout performers in spring and fall camp and has a chance to earn playing time early and often due to his size, quickness, and strength.

Defensive tackle improved dramatically in the post-spring portal window with the addition of [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], but Jackson, Stone, and others will need to be ready to take up the mantle of leadership inside soon.

As third-year head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and the Sooners enter a conference where games are won and lost in the trenches, they look to be in good hands with their 2024 class on both sides of the ball.

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Damonic Williams has high praise for freshmen defensive tackles

Damonic Williams has been impressed with Oklahoma’s freshmen defensive tackle duo.

Defensive tackle recruiting has become nearly as important as quarterback recruiting at the collegiate level. And there’s an argument to be made that elite defensive tackles are far more scarce than quarterbacks. That’s why [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag], [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag], and the Oklahoma Sooners defensive staff have found themselves in a number of big-time recruiting battles over the last several years.

The Sooners were better at defensive tackle in 2023, but the depth is so much better heading into 2024 because of a trio of additions.

Before [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] became the most high-profile recruitment in the spring transfer portal window, the Oklahoma Sooners spent the 2024 recruiting cycle in several more high-profile defensive tackle recruiting battles. [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] and [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag] were huge gets for Venables and Bates, landing the IMG Academy duo to anchor their defensive line of the future.  But the future could be now for Stone and Jackson.

In just a short time, Damonic Williams has come away impressed with what Stone and Jackson are able to do on a football field. He met with the media on Thursday and glowed when asked about David Stone and Jayden Jackson.

Williams said of his freshmen teammates, “They’re just doing a lot of things that veterans can do. And it’s just like, me and them, we still have to learn the playbook and things like that. But it’s just seeing the skill level and the talent that they have at such an early age is amazing.”

The Sooners are deeper at defensive tackle than they’ve been at any point in the Venables era but Jackson and Stone will have an opportunity to earn a role this fall. Their talent, physicality, and toughness is what made them two of the more highly sought after prospects in the 2024 recruiting class.

They were dominant at the high school level and while defensive tackle is a difficult position to make the jump from high school to college and college to the NFL, David Stone and Jayden Jackson have the right mentality and have put in the work to be impact players. And if a guy as talented as Damonic Williams has come away impressed already, that impact should come sooner rather than later.

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Damonic Williams breaks down why he committed to Oklahoma

TCU transfer Damonic Williams was a massive get for Brent Venables and Oklahoma in the spring transfer portal window.

The Oklahoma Sooners have begun fall camp. It’s the final piece of the offseason puzzle before the season is upon us once again.

OU enters Year 3 under head coach [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and leaves the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] in favor of the [autotag]SEC[/autotag] in 2024. The Sooners are looking to build on positive momentum after going 10-3 in 2023, improving from a disastrous 6-7 season in 2022.

One of the newest names on the Sooners roster will also be one of the key pieces for 2024. Defensive lineman [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] transferred to OU from TCU during the spring [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] window. Williams was one of the most sought-after players in the portal and a huge win for Venables and defensive tackles coach [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag]. Williams not only filled a need in Norman post-spring football at defensive tackle, but he represents a massive NIL victory for Oklahoma as well.

The much-anticipated arrival made his Oklahoma media debut on Thursday after practice, speaking with the OU media. Naturally, the conversation turned to his commitment to the Sooners, and he was able to shed a little light on his decision.

“I feel like out of all the head coaches I met, BV, he’s probably most definitely the best one,” Williams said. “He’s such a hands-on coach and not a CEO-minded head coach where they’re just watching practice. No, he’s getting in practice, he’s chewing people out if they’re doing the wrong thing, it’s something that I love about this place.”

 

Williams certainly has Venables pegged, as that hands-on intensity and fire is what has carried the coach throughout his entire career. But Venables wasn’t the only reason that Williams chose OU over plenty of other suitors.

“Actually on my first official visit here, at the end of the visit, my mom was like, “Either you’re going (to OU) and I’m going with you, or I’m just gonna go by myself”, so that was already a deciding factor,” Williams said. “For my mom it was the family-oriented environment, and for me it was the same thing, but also what I could do in this defense.”

Williams and his mother clearly saw the family-centric mindset that Venables and his staff have been trying to create since arriving at Oklahoma. Williams should also be able to wreak havoc in the trenches, giving the Sooners a defensive tackle that can win off the line in the SEC.

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Oklahoma lands commitment from defensive lineman Floyd Boucard

Floyd Boucard commits to Oklahoma on Saturday over USC, Miami, and Alabama.

Oklahoma’s journey into the SEC is complete, and in less than two months, the Sooners will take the field as SEC members. To prepare for the challenges ahead, Oklahoma had to become a better defensive unit. The most important part of this process was improving how the program recruited along the offensive and defensive lines.

Brent Venables and his defensive line coach, Todd Bates, have entirely different views of what their defensive lines need to look like, and their view matched the defensive lines you see across the SEC.

Teams need size up the middle at the point of attack to disrupt opponents’ efforts to run the ball or sit in the pocket to pick defenses apart in the passing game.

The Sooners continue to recruit the types of defensive linemen necessary, and it makes perfect sense why the Sooners pursued and ultimately earned a commitment from Rivals four-star defensive lineman Floyd Boucard.

Boucard hails from Canada but played his junior season at Mobile Christian in Alabama, where he registered 85 tackles, 27 tackles-for-loss, and 11 sacks. He plans to play for Miami Central High School in Florida for his senior year.

He has a non-stop motor and moves very well for someone who checks in at 6 feet, 3 inches and 315 pounds. He has terrific burst off the snap, and he could be a difference-maker lined up as a nose tackle, defensive tackle and even defensive end in three-man alignments.

His recruitment has seen a number of twists and turns. USC, Alabama and Miami all led at one point. Ultimately, Todd Bates and the Oklahoma Sooners earned the last laugh.

In the lead-up to his commitment, Boucard shared his favorite parts of being recruited by the Sooners. “The coaching staff has shown much love,” Boucard said. “I also like how they want to use me in their scheme.”

With his commitment, the Sooners have 22 commits for the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] and remain steady at number nine in the class rankings.

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Oklahoma favored to land 2025 defensive lineman out of Florida

Oklahoma Sooners favored to land underrated 2025 defensive lineman out of Florida.

After a fantastic 2024 defensive line haul that netted [autotag]David Stone[/autotag], [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag], [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag] and [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag], the Oklahoma Sooners have done a nice job adding talent upfront in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

With five months until the early signing period, the Sooners have commitments from [autotag]C.J. Nickson[/autotag], [autotag]Trent Wilson[/autotag], [autotag]Ka’Mori Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Alexander Shieldknight[/autotag]. They will bolster a deep unit when they arrive in Norman. It doesn’t look like [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] is through by any stretch of the imagination.

The Sooners have been in pursuit of Rivals four-star defensive lineman Floyd Boucard and, on Wednesday evening, earned a trio of crystal ball predictions from 247Sports recruiting insiders Tom Loy, Brian Dohm and Collin Kennedy of Sooners Illustrated.

 

Boucard is a 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive tackle prospect who has only played football for a few years. He grew up in Canada playing hockey and the agility and athleticism required is clear.

He’s a dynamic disruptor who plays both defensive tackle and defensive end in three-man fronts for Miami Central. Boucard shows off a really nice first step off the line of scrimmage and great lateral agility. He’s strong and has good play speed for the position. When asked to play in a two-gap call on defense, he does a great job staying disciplined in the system and is fantastic at shedding blocks.

Though considered a three-star prospect by 247Sports and On3, Boucard has a chance to have his ranking climb during his senior season. He has all of the ability teams are looking for from a defensive lineman and has the versatility, ability, and experience to play multiple spots at the next level.

Boucard is set to make his commitment decision on July 20 and looks to be choosing among USC, Miami and Alabama.

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Oklahoma’s David Stone tops On3’s list of best freshmen defensive linemen

Oklahoma’s David Stone is the top freshman defensive lineman in the country, according to On3.

Oklahoma Sooners freshman defensive lineman [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] was the centerpiece of [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]’ [autotag]2024 recruiting class[/autotag] in Norman. The former five-star was a huge get for Venables and [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] out of IMG Academy.

The 2024 class was loaded with talent along the defensive line, so figuring out who is the best is no easy task. But On3 has the Sooner standout atop their list of the best defensive line recruits entering college football in 2024.

PFF College compiled the list on social media, ranking the top ten freshmen on the d-line according to On3 coming into this season. You don’t have to search very long for Stone’s name, as he tops the rankings.

This is great news for Venables and the rest of the staff, as they continue to try and turn around this roster to match their vision. Stone’s importance to the future of the program cannot be understated. Recruits like Stone weren’t coming to Oklahoma prior to Venables’ arrival. And now that he’s in Norman, the expectations are high for the former five-star prospect.

Luckily for Oklahoma, Bates is one of the best in the business and has plenty of talent to shape into a force up front as the Sooners move into the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

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