Tag: Todd Bates

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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Latest Oklahoma offer Makhi Williams-Lee, set to officially visit in June

Oklahoma offers Makhi Williams-Lee out of Atlanta, Georgia.

Oklahoma and [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] have been a match made in heaven on the recruiting trail. Last year’s defensive line haul was lauded publicly by many media pundits for its depth, versatility, upside, and star power.

The class of 2025 may not be nearly as deep nationwide, but there is still help to be found in the nooks and crannies of the recruiting world.

Oklahoma offered a seemingly unknown commodity in Makhi Williams-Lee, and by all accounts, he may be a late bloomer and someone who could go under the radar and end up being a steal down the road.

He’s not ranked on any site, but it’s clear Bates sees something there to offer him.

He’s a 6-foot-2, 270-pound defensive lineman out of Atlanta, Georgia. He plays his high school ball at Lakeside High School. His junior season saw him amass 77 tackles, 22 of which were for losses. He had ten sacks, four quarterback hurries, and two fumble recoveries.

His offer list is sparse, and the Sooners are far and away the most prominent offer he has. NC State, Texas Tech, and James Madison are a few of the other schools that are in pursuit.

With the announcement of his offer, Williams-Lee announced he would be taking an official visit to Norman on the weekend of June 14. That weekend is becoming a pivotal moment for Sooners in the 2025 recruiting class as a number of other commits are planning to be in town.

While the offer list isn’t overwhelming, Williams-Lee has some admirable explosive traits and a frame that could hold 300 pounds or more. He may not be depended on to start day one if he were to commit and become a Sooner. Still, he’s the type of player that Oklahoma could let work in the weight room and see how he develops after a few offseasons in Jerry Schmidt’s hands, alongside getting coached up by Bates.

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Oklahoma is a spring transfer portal winner according to 247 Sports’ Josh Pate

Josh Pate of 247Sports thinks the Oklahoma Sooners are one of the big winners of the spring transfer portal window in 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners were very busy in the spring [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] window. It’s caught the eyes of at least one national college football analyst.

247Sports’ Josh Pate named four teams that were transfer portal winners from the spring window on his show The Late Kick with Josh Pate. Oklahoma was the very first team he mentioned.

“I think Oklahoma is one of the winning teams,” Pate said, “When they got [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] … it is symbolic that Oklahoma gets where they are.”

Pate is referring to Williams’ high-profile recruitment earlier this month. It was a battle that [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] and [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] won to get the All-Big 12 honorable mention defensive tackle to Norman.

Williams’ commitment sent a signal to Pate and the rest of the college football world. That signal is that the Sooners are going to do whatever it takes with name, image, and likeness to acquire talent, especially now that they’re in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

“Oklahoma’s not taking a backseat to anyone when it comes to aggressiveness and when it comes to exploring every possibility to fortify their roster,” Pate said.

Pate also highlighted [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag], who transferred to Oklahoma from SMU. Hickman was a big get for [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] at the center position. He should start right away after starting all 14 games for the Mustangs last year and with more than 2,400 snaps to his name.

[autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag], the Purdue transfer was also mentioned, though he came in the winter portal window. Burks dominated in the [autotag]2024 Spring Game[/autotag], and could be the go-to option in the passing game this season.

Pate’s other three spring portal winners were Miami, UCF, and Oregon. The Ducks added former OU quarterback [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] in December and were busy again this spring. He also chose four losers from the spring window with LSU, who missed out on Williams when he chose the Sooners, Michigan State, Colorado, and Clemson making the list.

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Oklahoma’s defensive line holds the keys to Sooners’ present and future

The Sooners went to work in recruiting and portaling the defensive line position this offseason. If it pays off, Oklahoma could begin to become a top-flight contender again.

It’s been about two-and-a-half years since [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] became the head football coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. In that time, he and his staff have diligently worked to build the program the right way after stripping it down to the studs in 2022.

A focus on toughness, discipline and complimentary football arrived in Norman on Dec. 5, 2021. Though there were growing pains in a 6-7 first year, the Sooners bounced back with a 10-3 mark in 2023. As the program enters the SEC, the challenge grows.

All of the preview magazines and national pundits will agree that one of the biggest keys to OU’s success in 2024 is the development of the offensive line. While that is absolutely the case in Year 1 in the SEC, it’s the guys on the other side of the ball that hold the keys to the future in Norman.

The Sooners have added some bona fide talent to the defensive line since the conclusion of last season via high school recruiting and the [autotag]transfer porta[/autotag]l. These are the players who will develop under Venables, [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] and [autotag]Miguel Chavis[/autotag] to form the future core of the Oklahoma Sooners defense.

Let’s start with high school recruiting and focus on the five defensive linemen that Venables and Co. brought in. The 2024 recruiting class on the D-line is quite simply the future of football in Norman, with five-star defensive tackle [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] leading the way.

Stone hails from IMG Academy in Florida and was the linchpin of the ’24 class. His recruitment was a wild one, but the Sooners won in the end for the interior force. He was the highest ranked defensive tackle to sign with OU in the “star era,” and is maybe the best indication that Lincoln Riley and Alex Grinch no longer reside in the state of Oklahoma.

[autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag] is a four-star player from Melissa, Texas, who committed to the Sooners in September. He figures to play inside and on the edge, filling multiple roles on the defensive line. North Texas high school football is filled with all kinds of talent all over the field, and Smith more than held his own against excellent competition.

Also slotting in the interior defensive line will be [autotag]Jayden Jackson[/autotag], Stone’s teammate at IMG Academy. He has been locked in with OU since July and was perhaps the most impressive of the five in spring football, according to reports. Jackson took reps with the starters in the spring game.

Moving outside, [autotag]Wyatt Gilmore[/autotag] hails from Minnesota and was the first piece of the puzzle to fall into place with his June commitment. The four-star is still adding weight to his frame, but he plays with a high motor and intensity that will make him a favorite of Chavis.

More: Damonic Williams, Defense makes OU a contender

The final piece of that puzzle came in the form of four-star edge [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag] from Tulsa. The edge-rusher committed a couple of weeks after Smith and should pair nicely with players such as [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag] when it comes to pinning their ears back and rushing the passer.

While high school recruiting forms the base, the portal plugs holes. The staff was active in both the winter and spring windows.

[autotag]Jermayne Lole[/autotag] comes in after transferring from Louisville to help on the interior of the defensive line. At 6-foot-3, 310, Lole already has the measurables of an SEC lineman, which the Sooners have to have present. He had elite production at Arizona State before injuries limited Lole over the previous few seasons. As a true sophomore in 2019, Lole recorded 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. If he can regain that form that put him on NFL draft radars, the Sooners have an elite presence in the middle of their defensive line.

Edge rusher [autotag]Caiden Woullard[/autotag] arrives in Norman after a stint at Miami (Ohio), and was 247Sports’ fourth-ranked edge in the portal class. Last season for the Red Hawks, Woullard recorded 12 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks.

But perhaps the best indication that the Sooners are gaining traction is the transfer portal win that will bring [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag] to Owen Field this fall.

Even with the Venables’ arrival, the Sooners had been left at the altar by some notable defensive line names like David Hicks and Williams Nwaneri. But, Oklahoma simply refused to be bullied by SEC dollars this go-around in the early May saga that was Williams’ recruitment. The Sooners wanted him, and the tandem of Venables and Bates did whatever it took to get that “all-in” poker chip.

This development speaks volumes. The Sooners are beginning to play with the big boys in the NIL world of college football. Additionally, the reputations of Venables, Bates, Chavis, and the rest of the staff will certainly help sway players to be developed in Norman.

If Oklahoma wants to play ball with programs like Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, LSU, Ohio State, and Michigan (all teams with CFP championships), then the Sooners will need to continue this philosophy all over the roster. Along the defensive line is where it will be the most pivotal.

Defense win championships in college football, and that is doubly true in the SEC, where the trenches quite literally win or lose football games. Complimentary football is a must, as a great offense and subpar defense can only get you so far. A complete roster is the only way to capture a championship in this sport. The offense has to be lethal. The defense has to be suffocating.

Luckily, Oklahoma seems to have the right man at the wheel. If this new aggressive name, image and likeness licensing philosophy continues to emerge, Venables could be bringing all kinds of talented players to the Sooner State.

His 2024 defensive line acquisitions are a great way to start.

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Oklahoma Sooners land prediction for 4-star defensive lineman

The Oklahoma Sooners continue to trend in a positive direction for 2025 interior defensive lineman Kole Briehler.

The Oklahoma Sooners are off to a great start with the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag]. The Sooners have already landed 13 commitments, and we haven’t even hit summer yet.

This is expected to be the smallest class since [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] took over, which means there aren’t many spots left. But they’re still working to land several more blue-chip prospects. On Tuesday, Rivals national recruiting director and rankings analyst Adam Friedman issued a futurecast favoring the Sooners for [autotag]Kole Briehler[/autotag].

[autotag]Kole Briehler[/autotag] is the No. 18 defensive lineman in 2025, according to Rivals, and the No. 7 player in the state of New Jersey. The three main players in his recruitment are the Sooners, the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Stanford Cardinals.

Now, that doesn’t mean other teams can’t make their way onto the field, but those three getting the most buzz. According to On3’s prediction machine, the Sooners hold a slight lead over the Buckeyes. Briehler also has notable offers from Miami, Virginia Tech, Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, USC, West Virginia, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin.

He has official visits set up with all three schools in June; the Sooners get the last crack on June 21, 2024. That would be his third visit to Norman since November.

If the Sooners can earn his pledge, Briehler would join [autotag]Ka’Mori Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Trent Wilson[/autotag] for the Sooners interior defensive line. Two of them would be coming from the Northeast.

There’s still a lot of time between now and the December early signing period but this would be a big recruiting win if [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] and company are able to pull it off.

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Defensive tackle transfer Philip Blidi no longer visiting Oklahoma for the Spring game

The Oklahoma Sooners have a busy recruiting weekend ahead but one talented defensive lineman will no longer be there.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a massive weekend ahead with the spring game and the number of recruits set to be on campus. In addition to the high school prospects OU will be hosting, the Sooners will also host several transfer targets this weekend.

The list of transfers includes defensive tackles [autotag]Damonic Williams[/autotag], [autotag]Jermayne Lole[/autotag] and interior offensive lineman [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag]. Initially, that list included Indiana Hoosiers’ transfer, [autotag]Philip Blidi[/autotag]. He was the first of the group to announce he’d be at the spring game but has now announced he will not be in attendance.

Some people may look at that and be surprised. When Blidi first entered the portal, it looked like he was set to be a Sooner. But after a few visits and the list of Sooners targets growing, the rumblings of Blidi not ending up in the Crimson and Cream only grew louder.

Obviously, he would have brought a lot of experience, which would have helped a talented but young defensive tackle group. However, the Sooners still have two big-time transfers at that position set to come to campus. Williams is considered Oklahoma’s top defensive tackle target. As the Sooners are over the scholarship limit, they were going to have to be picky in their additions.

So, now the focus turns to Williams and Lole and a recent transfer portal entry in UCLA defensive tackle Jay Toia. But it remains to be seen how active the Sooners will be with Toia.

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Sooners now the trending favorite for 2025 4-star defensive lineman

The Oklahoma Sooners received On3 Predictions from Steve Wiltfong and Chad Simmons for four-star defensive lineman Trent Wilson.

The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to build upon one of their best defensive line recruiting classes of the modern era in the 2024 cycle. Oklahoma already has commitments from [autotag]Ka’Mori Moore[/autotag] and [autotag]Alexander Shieldknight[/autotag] and look to be the trending favorite for a blue-chip prospect, [autotag]Trent Wilson[/autotag].

Steve Wiltfong, now of On3, and Chad Simmons each issued an On3 prediction favoring the Sooners in Wilson’s recruitment. The Sooners now have a sizeable lead over Penn State and Maryland in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.

Wilson, who hails from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, has 17 offers from Big Ten and SEC schools.

The Sooners offered Wilson at the end of January but [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] has apparently moved the needle in a short time.

Here’s what I had to say about Wilson back in January. At the end of January, Wilson released a top eight that included the Florida State Seminoles, Penn State Nittany Lions, Maryland Terrapins, Florida Gators, Texas A&M Aggies, Tennessee Volunteers, and the Ohio State Buckeyes along with the Sooners.

Wilson, who plays as the three-technique defensive tackle, or between the guard and tackle in their defensive alignment, plays with good quickness and power. He uses a good first step to dart the gap between opposing offensive linemen to get to the quarterback or bring down the running back in the backfield. – Williams, Sooners Wire

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Oklahoma makes final three for 2025 DT Kole Briehler; set to host official visit June 21

Three-star DT Kole Briehler announced his final three and Oklahoma is set for a battle with Ohio State and Stanford for his commitment.

Oklahoma is rounding the final turn and is gearing up for the home stretch in the race for one of their defensive line targets in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

On Wednesday morning, three-star defensive tackle [autotag]Kole Briehler[/autotag] offered an update about his recruitment process. He posted a graphic on social media highlighting the final three schools in his recruitment process.

Oklahoma, Stanford, and Ohio State remain firmly in the mix, according to Briehler’s post.

Briehler also listed dates for his official visits with each choice as well. Stanford, soon to be an ACC member in 2024, will get the first official visit on June 1. A couple of weeks later, Ohio State will host Briehler. Recently, Briehler visited the Buckeyes. Last but certainly not least, the Sooners will host him on June 21 and have the final official visit before what could be a summer commitment.

Briehler is 6-foot-3 and has incredible strength. Oklahoma offered him back in November, and they have remained a steady candidate since then. Out of the Hun School, the talented defensive line prospect hails from the same program that produced 2023 offensive line signee [autotag]Logan Howland[/autotag].

No one knows how this may go, and no predictions have been submitted yet, but this recruitment will last through the summer. [autotag]Todd Bates[/autotag] is the primary guy for Oklahoma here, and he has a good track record for securing defensive linemen from the East Coast.

Will he prevail again? We’ll find out.

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Danny Okoye looking to develop ‘as much as possible’ during spring practice

Danny Okoye is one of the more intriguing prospects the Sooners have had in awhile and he’s ready to make an impact.

One of the bigger surprise signings of the 2024 recruiting class was four-star edge [autotag]Danny Okoye[/autotag]. Okoye finished in the top 80 nationally, and at one point had eliminated the Oklahoma Sooners from his recruitment.

But after reconsidering Oklahoma, he quickly went all in on the Sooners before committing and then signing. Now, he’s an early enrollee and already participated in winter workouts and spring ball.

Okoye is one of the more intriguing prospects. He didn’t face great competition in high school, but his physical tools are off the charts. Okoye came into Oklahoma at 233 pounds but is already up to 255 pounds. He ran a 4.56 40-yard dash.

Okoye talked about his expectations for the spring.

“Just develop as much as possible,” Okoye said. “This is the first spring ball that I’ve been a part of. I’m not expecting to be as advanced as some of these other guys, but if I can advance myself as much as I can in the time that I have given to me, I’ll be happy. I’m sure it’ll pay off when the season comes and I can fight for a starting spot.”

The hardest part for many freshmen is the mental aspect of the game and it’s even harder playing in a Brent Venables defense. But the physical attributes are there for Okoye. He also has the work ethic to go with it.

Having that combination could see him get early playing time and start terrorizing [autotag]SEC[/autotag] offenses next season.

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Oklahoma Sooners offer four-star DL prospect and Auburn commit Malik Autry

Oklahoma has offered fast-rising 2025 four-star DL prospect Malik Autry.

Oklahoma just had one of its all-time best defensive line recruiting hauls with their 2024 class. It was headlined by five-star defensive tackle David Stone but there were multiple four-star defensive linemen in the Sooners’ haul.

Oklahoma needed every single signee as the Sooners were set to be pretty thin along their defensive line after the 2024 season. They now turn their recruiting efforts to 2025, where the Sooners already have one commitment from three-star nose tackle Ka’Mori Moore.

Moore committed last summer, and Oklahoma is in pursuit of adding more.

Their most recent offer is to four-star prospect Malik Autry. Autry is a large human being who most certainly fits the mold of the 1-technique type of nose tackle that the vast majority of SEC teams seem to have. He is the no. 89 overall prospect in the Top247 and is seeing his recruitment take off. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him rise into the top 60 nationally when it’s all said and done.

Autry stands tall at six-foot-five and clocks in at 320 pounds. He hails from Alabama and is currently committed to the Auburn Tigers. He was offered by Todd Bates, who is from Alabama himself. Bates has long been considered an excellent recruiter for his ability to connect with the gentlemen he recruits. Can he help loosen the bond between Auburn and help give Oklahoma a fighting chance?

Malik Autry’s Recruiting Profile

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