Oklahoma’s defense has the pieces necessary to continue its success into the 2025 season.
But as new coaches, new players and new standards have been introduced, the results of spring practice are showing flashes of a newly energized defensive unit.
“It’s different from last year,” said junior linebacker Sammy Omosigho. “It’s very competitive.”
In 2024, Omosigho played in all 13 games and logged three starts. He ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 39, showing his potential and contributing to a top-25 ranked defense.
“Year three in the program, I’m feeling more comfortable with the schemes and the plays,” Omosigho said. “ The general feel for it is better.”
As he steps up into a bigger role in 2025, he’ll transition to primarily inside linebacker.
Head Coach Brent Venables has shown he’s willing to change player’s roles and call on them to adapt. Omosigho is relying on those around him for guidance and embracing the challenge.
“It’s been great to have guys like Kobe (McKinzie) and Kip (Lewis) helping me out,” Omosigho said. “Coach (Nate) Dreiling has been an amazing help, and having Coach (Venables) in my ear has really been helping me out, too.
“Playing inside backer is fun. You have to play both sides of the ball, both sides of the field. It’s amazing to be able to fly around and have fun.”
The linebackers are one of the stronger units the Sooners have as of recently, and they’ll be expected to keep up their same levels of production under new position coach Nate Dreiling. Oklahoma hired Dreiling on Feb. 1, but players are already feeling his contributions on the practice field.
“(Dreiling) knows his stuff,” Omoshigo said. “He’s a very intelligent coach. He’s on his P’s and Q’s. Him and Coach Goodwin are just a one-two punch. He’s an amazing dude, amazing pick up.”
Another notable addition to OU’s linebacker room is transfer Kendal Daniels, who came to Norman in the transfer portal this past offseason. Daniels is a redshirt senior coming from Oklahoma State, where he was an honorable mention on the All-Big 12 honors list in 2023. The same year, he ranked second in the Big 12 in fumble recoveries (2), and fifth in solo tackles (62.) Last season, Daniels recorded 64 tackles (11 for loss) and 5.5 sacks.
“(Daniels), that’s a crazy athlete, a freak athlete,” Omosigho said. “Great personality, great guy, great player. It was amazing for him to join. He came to the right place.”
As an experienced player on defense, the hope is that Daniels can make an immediate impact. But for the Sooners defense to maximize its success, it needs current roster players to step up as well.
Sophomore defensive lineman David Stone is a prime example of someone hoping to come into his own in 2025. As a recruit, Stone was a consensus five-star player and the No. 5 ranked prospect in the country by Rivals.
Stone played in all 13 regular season games in 2024, and recorded just six tackles and one sack. Hoping to improve in his sophomore season, he reflected on the struggles of last fall and the steps he’s taking in spring camp to get there.
“During the (2024) spring, I was second in sacks,” Stone said on Tuesday. “I led the team in sacks in fall camp. But … I let a lot of things outside of football affect the way I was carrying myself. Regardless of all that, I’ve done better.”
After Oklahoma’s inaugural season in the SEC, it became abundantly clear that size and strength are core tenets of any football team hoping to compete in the conference. Week in and week out, defensive linemen can expect to face a 6’7, 360-pund player. Stone knows the ability to push himself in the weight room is important for him to take a jump in year two.
“I’ve been killing it this spring,” Stone said. “I’m up like 15, 20 pounds, moving better than ever. Making those small improvements all over have been a big part of my game so far.
“A lot of people don’t know, but when it comes to the weight room, I was never really a weight room guy,” Stone said. “But I love working hard, so when I got with (Coach Jerry Schmidt) this season, man, it was a jump. He was pushing me everyday. A lot of my maxes went up a plate or two. That jump helped me put on this weight. Then we’re running, and I’m still moving good, fluidly … I love the extra weight I got. I feel like I’m holding blocks better.”
With the coaching changes, portal additions, and young players filling gaps in the defense, it’s impossible to know exactly how the unit will look come fall 2025. The hopes are that it remains a top-ranked defense and can boost Oklahoma to a winning record for its second season in the SEC.
The one defensive constant that remains, however, is Venables – who will be returning to play-calling duties on that side of the ball this upcoming season.
“It’s still Coach (Venables’) defense, and he’s made a way to make it easier for us so we can play as fast as possible,” Omosigho said. “It’s been amazing.”
This story was edited by Josh McDaniel.
