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NORMAN — While OU’s offense was a trainwreck in 2024, the Sooners had their best defense in years.
OU was 19th nationally in total defense at 318.2 yards per game, 24th in rushing defense at 115.1 yards per game, were 10th in tackles for loss at 7.4 per game, and were tied for sixth in fumble recoveries with 12.
But the offseason featured plenty of unknowns for the Sooners’ defense.
Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman — two of the building blocks of OU’s defensive resurgence under Brent Venables — are preparing for the NFL Draft after exhausting their eligibility. Versatile defender Dasan McCullough and cornerback Kani Walker entered the transfer portal. And defensive coordinator Zac Alley left to take the same post at West Virginia after just one season in Norman.
But even losing Alley and with the early portal defections, losing a defensive coordinator hasn’t slowed down the Sooners’ defensive momentum.
More: OU football transfer portal tracker: Sooners land OSU’s Kendal Daniels
Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman R Mason Thomas (32) brings down Navy Midshipmen fullback Alex Tecza (46) during the Armed Forces Bowl football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Navy Midshipmen at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, Dec. 27, 2024.
Most of the boxes the Sooners needed to check in the offseason have already been checked off.
The first was retaining talent.
McCullough might’ve been the biggest surprise among Sooners’ players entering the transfer portal in this cycle.
His versatility to play at all three levels made him an intriguing addition after transferring from Indiana before the 2023 season.
While McCullough showed flashes during his two seasons in Norman, he played in just seven games — making one start — due to injury last season and never found a consistent…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ou-football-not-changing-much-121519576.html
Author : The Oklahoman
Publish date : 2025-01-12 12:15:00
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