Ethan Downs knows what it's like to play in a packed Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium — he has done it for three seasons.
However, for the newcomers on defense, OU’s spring game is just a preview for what is coming next.
“This is huge (for them) because it feels like a game,” Downs said post-game on Saturday. “The atmosphere makes everything feel way more intense than a practice, and so the mistakes are more intense.”
The senior has started 25 of OU’s last 26 games, and did the same at the defensive end spot during the intrasquad matchup. Although Downs is not new to the program or to the position, tallying 28 tackles, a team-high 4.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss and one interception in 2023, he has had to adjust to the changes that occurred in the off season.
Defensive coordinator Ted Roof parted ways with the program after two seasons on Jan. 17, and OU announced Jay Valai and Zac Alley, alongside Todd Bates who arrived in 2022, as co-defensive coordinators.
“Coach Alley is a mini Coach (Venables),” Downs said. “Coach Alley is fresh and more relationship-oriented. He loves to be more personal with us and to simplify the game for us, and he knows how to speak our language.”
The defense is looking to head in a new direction after struggling last season. Oklahoma was steady guarding the ground game and were ranked No. 31 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big 12 — only behind Texas and Iowa State. But OU’s flaws on defense were exposed when the ball went in the air, and opponents averaged 250.8 yards per game, putting the Sooners at 109th in college football.
This season, OU is returning players like Downs, junior defensive linemen Gracen Halton and R Mason Thomas, who both started in the spring game, and sophomore defensive lineman PJ Adebawore in hopes of building consistency and better coverage with a new coach heading into the SEC.
“Gracen (Halton) has made tremendous improvement, and PJ (Adebawore), R Mason (Thomas), those guys have really gotten better,” OU head coach Brent Venables said. “Ethan is a better player right now than when he finished the season.”
Early-enrollees and younger players stepping up has also given the Sooners a chance to help fill in the gaps that were left after the conclusion of last season.
“We got some really good young guys that we feel really good about,” Venables said. “Some of them are guys that are returning, guys like Marcus Strong, but some are guys like David Stone, and Jayden Jackson … I think Stone and Jayden both weighed in over 300 pounds yesterday.”
Jackson, who started on Saturday, and Stone both attended IMG Academy and looked strong during their first in-game appearance since arriving at OU.
“David Stone and Jayden Jackson are on it, and are really talented and really disciplined,” Downs said. “Coming from IMG, they are very familiar with the schedule and the game plan, and have adjusted really quickly.
“Our freshman D-ends like Nigel Smith and Danny Okoye are also uber talented. They are not learning as quickly as the other two D-tackles, but they are going to be just fine.”
Other players like safeties Robert Spears-Jennings and Peyton Bowen, sophomore cornerbacks Makari Vickers and Jacobe Johnson, senior corner Kendel Dolby and linebackers Lewis Carter and Danny Stutsman started during the spring game.
As OU adjusts to a new system, players have seemed to cling to Alley’s approach. Venables, who when asked by the media after the spring game about the new co-defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator Seth Littrell’s availability to speak to the press, replied “maybe,” has liked what he has seen from his new hire.
“Defensively, they had one blitz and couple coverages and that was it,” Venables said. “But (Alley has been) getting guys to play hard and play with fundamentals. Guys got exposed, and we found some things we got to get better at from a fundamental standpoint, but overall, since January, it’s been fantastic.”
OU’s offensive line
Oklahoma’s offensive line and offensive coordinator look completely different than it did a year ago.
However, the changes have given the Sooners room to grow in the offseason.
In 2023, OU ranked No. 34 in rushing offense and allowed 20 sacks, but struggled with penalties. Heading into 2024, Oklahoma hired Seth Littrell to take over as co-offensive coordinator, alongside Joe Jon Finley, after Jeff Lebby left for a head coaching job at Mississippi State, and the Sooners will not be returning a single starter on the offensive line from last season.
Oklahoma chose to start redshirt junior Febechi Nwaiau at right guard, redshirt sophomore Jake Taylor at right tackle, junior Jacob Sexton at left guard, redshirt senior Michael Tarquin at left tackle and redshirt freshman Joshua Bates at center during the spring game.
As sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold took snaps on Saturday, his newly constructed offensive line gave him optimal time to stay in the pocket, read the coverage and make the play.
“The offensive line played really good today, they gave me a ton of time,” Arnold said. “I was sitting back there, probably holding the ball a little too long. They did a great job.”
With lots of space to work and figure out what works best, players have had to step up during spring practices, which was on display during the spring game.
“I was most excited about the movement from Josh Bates,” Venables said. “He had a good spring, he’s a tough guy, and made tremendous improvement in leadership and effort. Everything goes through him, he touches the ball every snap. I really liked what he was able to do.”
The head coach was also impressed by the performance from his starting right tackle and left guard.
“Jake Taylor and Jacob Sexton were fantastic,” Venables said. “They are playing their best football right now.”
The spring game also tried out a young second-string offensive line composed of freshmen Eugene Brooks, Josh Aisosa, Isaiah Autry-Dent and redshirt freshmen Heath Ozaeta and Logan Howland.
OU is having to adjust, but the desire to grow and leadership efforts from the line have allowed the group to mesh.
“Overall, in the Oklahoma uniform we don’t have a ton of experience there,” Venables said when talking about the offensive line. “But they understand the importance of that cohesion there, and they spend a lot of time together.”
Spring game attendance
After two successful spring game campaigns in 2022 and 2023, Oklahoma was able to bring out a solid crowd for the third consecutive season.
Venables first spring game in Norman during the 2022 season was also accompanied by former OU quarterback Baker Mayfield’s Heisman trophy statue revealing, attracting 75,000 fans. The following year, Kyler Murray also had a Heisman ceremony, bringing in 54,409 fans.
Although OU head softball coach Patty Gasso was supposed to have her own statue unveiled in front of Oklahoma’s new Love’s Field stadium on Saturday, it was postponed due to weather.
Despite having a 30-minute game delay and no outside attractions, the spring game still saw a fairly full lower bowl, and had 45,861 people in attendance.
#Sooners crowd for the 2024 Spring Game: pic.twitter.com/kALtMY9Pg3
— Louis Raser (@LouisRaser) April 20, 2024
The crowd gave the Sooners a peek at a true game day in Norman, and provided the team with a boost heading into the summer.
“We’ve been working really hard this offseason,” Downs said. “So to get back on the field and play for the fans, feel that excitement again and hear that music again is really great.”
This story was edited by Louis Raser.
