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.
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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 place in Venables’ defense.
The other defensive players to enter the portal were linebacker Lewis Carter (UCF), safety Makari Vickers (Colorado), linebacker Phil Picciotti (UCF), cornerback Jayden Rowe (Kansas State), defensive lineman Ashton Sanders (UCLA), defensive lineman Davon Sears (TBD), Walker (Arkansas).
While Walker played 424 snaps this season according to Pro Football Focus, eighth-most on the team, none of the other portal players played more than 160 snaps (McCullough). Vickers, Picciotti, Rowe, Sanders and Sears combined to play just 67 defensive snaps.
But while those players won’t be returning, the Sooners picked up major wins by retaining safety Robert Spears-Jennings, defensive end R. Mason Thomas and defensive lineman Damonic Williams.
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The biggest among those was Thomas, who emerged as a budding star this season with nine sacks, 23 tackles,. 11 quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a pass breakup in his first fully healthy season in Norman.
Spears-Jennings was the Sooners’ most consistent defender for much of the season, though his productivity dipped a bit at the end of the season.
His 66 tackles were second-most for OU, behind only Stutsman, and he had four forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Williams’ 36 tackles, 4.5 for loss, and a sack weren’t overwhelming numbers but he played a significant role in freeing up the Sooners’ linebackers to make plays and helped the Sooners’ success against the run.
While OU was active early in the portal on the offensive side, it took some time for it to add on the defensive side there.
But in early January, the Sooners finally made a splash with the signing of Florida State edge rusher Marvin Jones Jr.
Jones is a former five-star prospect who had 25 tackles, six for loss, with four sacks in nine starts for the Seminoles last season.
With the Sooners losing Ethan Downs, Trace Ford and Caiden Woullard, adding experience at defensive end was a priority even with the return of Thomas.
OU also added safety/linebacker Kendal Daniels from Oklahoma State.
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Daniels had 64 tackles, 10.5 for loss, and 5.5 sacks with seven pass breakups and three quarterback hurries last season. Both of the latter two numbers led the Cowboys.
Daniels could fit into several spots in Norman, including at the cheetah spot or at weakside linebacker.
The additions of Jones and Daniels — and the announcements several key players would return came even as the Sooners were without a defensive coordinator following Alley’s surprise departure.
But the continued success was yet another indication that the defense, regardless of who holds the defensive coordinator title, is Venables’.
One of the biggest outstanding questions for the defense won’t be answered for quite awhile.
Junior cornerback Gentry Williams had missed four games due to injury over the previous two seasons before sustaining a season-ending injury just two games in last season.
If Williams can return and remain healthy, there’s a good chance he starts at one of the cornerback spots alongside Eli Bowen.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football not changing much on defense, even with Zac Alley’s exit
