The Oklahoma Sooners have increased the talent on the roster during each year of the Brent Venables era. It’s not that it wasn’t a talented team under Lincoln Riley. It was. But what Venables has done with a more holistic recruiting approach has created a roster far more capable of playing complementary football.
As we approach the 2024 college football season, all eyes are on Oklahoma as it makes its way into the SEC. Much of the concerns about the Sooners’ potential in 2024 falls on the offensive side of the ball, which is a far cry from what this team has been over the last decade.
Typically, analysts have wondered if the defense would be good enough for the Sooners to contend. While the questions on offense are warranted, the Sooners have a defense that can help mitigate some of those concerns if they can live up to expectations.
Blake Brockermeyer of CBS Sports released his top 151 players entering the 2024 season. Six Sooners made the list, including four from the defensive side of the ball, signaling a shift in what this team is about under Venables.
Here’s a look at the Sooners who made the top 151.
28. Danny Stutsman, LB
[autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] returning for the 2024 season was a monumental moment of the Oklahoma Sooners offseason. He sets the tone for everything the Sooners want to be about on the field. Confidence, toughness, physicality, and a defensive mindset. He was missed in the Sooners’ two regular-season losses last year. Stutsman believes there’s unfinished business for the Sooners and hopes to have OU in contention this season.
Stutsman flirted with going to the NFL but will be back and looking to improve even further on a very productive season: 100 tackles, 16 TFLs, three sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. He’s perfect for Brent Venables. Stutsman is an excellent box backer who has the ability to roam sideline to sideline and is solid in coverage, only allowing 21 catches for 242 yards. Oklahoma is glad to have him ahead of a brutal SEC schedule. – Brockermeyer, CBS Sports
68. Deion Burks, WR
[autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag] has a chance to put together a phenomenal season. The Sooners are going to get the former Purdue wide receiver the ball in a variety of ways to maximize his game-breaking speed and ability to make plays in space.
The explosive slot receiver turned a ton of heads this spring after transferring from Purdue. His spring breakout comes as no surprise if you’re a Purdue fan. Burks is a weapon with excellent speed and the ability to create space and hit the home run. – Brockermeyer, CBS Sports