Defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis and senior defensive lineman R Mason Thomas discussed whether Thomas should stay for his senior season or head to the NFL.
Thomas blossomed into one of the premier pass rushers in college football a season ago and totaled nine sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss on an OU defense ranked No. 19 in total defense in 2024.
“What’s best for Oklahoma is to have R Mason back,” Chavis said on Wednesday. “... We just did an honest evaluation of his game and asked him, ‘What do you want to be?’”
Thomas ultimately chose to spend one more season in Norman and the SEC. He headlines a defensive end room filled with talent and depth in 2025.
Chavis is entering his fourth season with the Sooners and has primarily built his room with high school prospects, with players from the transfer portal – such as senior defensive lineman Marvin Jones Jr. – serving as leaders and expecting to step up into bigger roles. One of his homegrown players – redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Taylor Wein – has been one of the standouts at fall camp thus far and is looking to have a big season.
Unlike most college football players in this current era, Wein has only stayed with one school after coming in as an unknown three-star recruit in 2023. Despite only appearing in 13 games the past two seasons, Chavis raves about Wein
“Taylor Wein is as invested as anybody on this team,” Chavis said. “I call him the assistant assistant (defensive ends) coach.
“R Mason is the clear leader of the group, but there’s not a guy that lives in our building as much as Taylor Wein.”
As no one has matched Thomas’ production in an OU uniform, other players who have found themselves deep down the depth chart a season ago are working for opportunities to support him.
Junior defensive lineman Adepoju Adebawore and redshirt freshman defensive lineman Danny Okoye had high expectations coming into the program but have yet to become household names.
Adebawore – a consensus five-star recruit in 2023 – has shown flashes at times, but injuries have stunted his development of becoming a premier pass rusher.
Okoye also didn’t play much in 2024 but still has lots of potential and will need to earn consistent reps if he wants a chance to develop.
With the amount of depth in the room, reps will be tough to earn, and Chavis says nothing will change with his coaching, no matter who’s on the field.
“I think the expectations are when you’re highly recruited, there’s more outside expectations,” Chavis said. “But the expectations for all my guys, the standard is up here.”
This story was edited by Joshua McDaniel.
