Why Oklahoma’s defense will be even more ‘focused’ in 2024 Brent Venables’ defense has plenty of leadership returning next year, which will be crucial in the Sooners’ Southeastern Conference debut.
NORMAN – Brent Venables will have a lot of help on defense next year.
Since college football’s unprecedented transfer merry-go-round began when Oklahoma was invited to the Alamo Bowl, a number of veterans have opted to forego professional opportunities and return to Norman in 2024.
Linebacker Danny Stutzman turns around and joins the SEC in his first year at OU with safety Billy Bowman and Downs defensive lineman EthA Dajon Terry, Jacob Lacy will be added.
Venables is eager to keep players in the program long-term and build a team that relies on upperclassmen and fifth-year players, who will be the core of the defense in 2024.
“My experience is that the older you get, the better you play,” Venables said Friday.
“And the guys that play their fourth, fifth, sixth year, they play more consistently.
Your focus is a little different.
You don’t get distracted by that.
“They will return and return focused on the mission of this program and definitely the team and himself.
” Between Stutzman, Bowman, Downs, Lacy and Terry, OU will return to professional football.
2,512 experience photos from the 2023 regular season, according to Focus.
And while these returning varsity players will play key roles in Venables’ defense, the University of Oklahoma is equally excited about the impact these veteran players will have off the field.
“This is a wonderful group of incredibly dedicated people,” Venables said.
“They love the locker room.
They love each other.
They love to compete.
They love to work.
And this is a great recipe.
“So there are some good things about the transition (to the SEC).
We have a lot of experience coming back at all three levels.
And a group of players with the right leadership and the right focus.
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Defensive end Adepoju Adebawole will begin his second year on campus this spring, adding to a number of talented defensive linemen in OU’s 2024 recruiting class.
Considered the best defensive tackle in the country, David Stone will join other highly regarded talents such as Nigel Smith II, Danny Okoye, Jaden Jackson and Wyatt Gilmore.
Become.
Venables knows the team needs to get stronger on both sides of the ball to be competitive in 2024 and beyond.
Getting these players up and running as quickly as possible will be helped along the way by the wealth of experienced leadership on the University of Oklahoma’s defensive front.
“They want deeper competition,” Venables said.
“You want to be strong and physical, that’s the name of the game.
It’s not – the SEC is these things.
Great skills, great depth.
The line of scrimmage is real.
“If you’ve ever coached a football offense or defense, you’ve probably used the motto of scrimmage to build a team, a program, a locker room, and try to dominate there first.
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