Following the departures of now-Kansas City defensive lineman R Mason Thomas and Marvin Jones Jr., OU’s attention along the defensive front turns to senior Taylor Wein and a potential breakout candidate in 2026, junior Danny Okoye.
Okoye finished the 2025 season with six tackles and two sacks in a limited role. With a larger opportunity ahead of him, the redshirt sophomore enters 2026 focused on steady improvement as he looks to carve out a more prominent role in the Sooners’ defense.
OU enters the season with a multitude of defensive players looking to take the next step for a unit projected to be among the nation’s best after finishing seventh in scoring defense a season ago. For Okoye, finding his place within that group and matching the standard around him has been a focal point throughout the offseason.
“Trying to see (myself) as a piece of a puzzle is really one of the big things I’ve seen that has helped me progress my game and helped me improve throughout this camp,” Okoye said.
Outside noise has surrounded the Sooners throughout fall camp, with much of the attention centered on high expectations for the defense. Okoye said the unit isn’t shying away from that pressure.
“We embrace the expectations honestly,” Okoye said. “Last year didn’t end in the way we wanted it to, so we’re trying to take every opportunity that we can this year.”
Okoye credited defensive line coach Miguel Chavis with helping reshape the way he views pressure as he prepares for a potential breakout.
“Coach Chavis is big on attacking your weaknesses. He likes to say that pressure is a privilege,” Okoye said. “That’s something I’ve taken into consideration this year.”
Head coach Brent Venables had high praise for Okoye coming out of practice on Friday.
“If we’re going to become the defense we hope and believe that we are and are capable of, then (Okoye’s) going to have to have his best year of football,” Venables said.
Venables likened Okoye to former Clemson linebacker B.J. Goodson, who, much like Okoye, had the opportunity to break out late in his college career. Goodson spent much of his time at Clemson in a reserve role before emerging as a senior under Venables, parlaying a strong final season into a six-year NFL career.
“The maturation process is different for everybody,” Venables said. “Sometimes, it’s just that opportunity … (and) belief is where it starts. … I’m really proud of (Okoye).”
With an expanded role ahead of him, Okoye enters 2026 with an opportunity to turn that pressure into production. The Sooners will need new faces to emerge along the defensive front following key offseason departures, and Okoye figures to be among those given the chance.
This story was edited by Joshua McDaniel.
