Sooners’ Future Defensive Rating
The Sooners have one of the better defensive units in college football. While they rank 19th, the team has CFP aspirations because it is well-rounded, not just an offensive team. The defense features two premier pass rushers, Nik Bonitto and Isaiah Thomas, and Perrion Winfrey in the middle of the defense. The Sooners are deep at linebacker and return both starters at safety in 2021. The secondary is young but talented. They are trending in the right direction to make some noise come postseason.
What ESPN Says…
Although Oklahoma’s streak of CFP appearances ended in 2020, the program moved closer to winning a national title. How? The Sooners’ defense began taking significant steps. The championship formula in the CFP era mandates top-level quarterback play and offensive production but also a defense that ranks top-15 or top-20 in most major categories. Oklahoma’s defense is getting closer and boasts plenty of potential playmakers in the front seven, such as linebackers Nik Bonitto and Brian Asamoah, and linemen Perrion Winfrey, Isaiah Thomas and Jalen Redmond. The Sooners’ improved recruiting and transfer portal additions also bolster the outlook on defense. Tennessee transfer Key Lawrence could immediately help a secondary led by an experienced safety tandem in Pat Fields and Delarrin Turner-Yell.
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