Zach Butler/The Daily

One week after losing starting middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds, the OU defense faced a tough test against a potent Kansas offense.

To fill the spot vacated by Reynolds, the Sooners moved senior safety Nic Harris into the middle linebacker position — also called the Mike.

“Kansas was a spread-open offense, and we were going to have an option at Mike, so having a safety at Mike really helped in this case,” said redshirt freshman linebacker Travis Lewis.

Harris finished the game with five tackles and knocked down a pass. Head coach Bob Stoops said Harris adapted well to the position, but should see more improvement in the future.

“I thought [Harris] really handled it well,” head coach Bob Stoops said. “We should get better after today’s experience and another week of practice.”

The defense gave up 357 yards through the air and 134 yards on the ground for a total of 491 yards, the most OU has allowed this season.

Many of Kansas running back Jake Sharp’s 106 yards came up the middle, where Reynolds normally would have been patrolling.

“I think there was a drop off,” Lewis said. “But you know we’re going to get better. This was our first game [without Reynolds] and we’ve been moving people around, but we’ll get better.”

The defense did see improved play from senior safety Lendy Holmes, who pulled in two interceptions, one of which came in the end zone and stopped a Kansas drive.

“I was just making my keys and hitting my spots,” Holmes said. “When I’m in the right spots, that’s what matters.”

Due to Harris’ move to middle linebacker, sophomore defensive back Quinton Carter made his first start at safety.

The move proved to be a productive one, as Carter led the team with 10 tackles.

“I think the key was shutting down [Kansas] in the second half,” Stoops said. “As far as today went, I’m pleased with our defensive performance.”

The defensive line provided consistent pressure on Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing, finishing with five sacks and seven tackles for losses.

Senior defensive end Auston English was particularly disruptive, finishing with two sacks and hurrying Reesing numerous other times.

Sophomore defensive Gerald McCoy and sophomore defensive end Jeremy Beal each recorded a solo sack, while Beal and junior Keenan Clayton combined for the fifth sack.

OU will be moving from spread offense to spread offense in its schedule through the Big 12. After playing Cincinnati, Texas, Kansas and starting with next week, Kansas State.

“It doesn’t hurt at all having a safety at Mike,” Lewis said. “Pretty much we have one, maybe one and a half true linebackers, but it worked, we got the win, and in the second half settled down and got the win.”