As OU football moves through spring practice, a defense replacing key contributors is focusing less on who’s gone and more on what must improve.
The Sooners lost linebackers Kobie McKinzie and Sammy Omosigho, defensive lineman Markus Strong and cornerback Gentry Williams to the transfer portal, while defensive linemen R Mason Thomas, Gracen Halton and Damonic Williams exhausted their eligibility. Linebacker Owen Heinecke has filed an injunction against the NCAA in an effort to secure a sixth year of eligibility.
For redshirt senior linebacker Kip Lewis, improvement starts with eliminating mistakes.
Lewis, who led the defense with 76 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss, while starting 13 games last season, said his decision to return was driven by a desire to refine details.
“I still got more left in the tank, just to get better (with) small things, details,” Lewis said.
Redshirt junior defensive lineman Taylor Wein, another returner, is expected to take on a larger role to help improve the defense. He contributed in key moments last season, including a forced fumble and a tipped field goal in OU’s 23-21 win at Alabama. With multiple experienced linemen gone, his role has shifted from contributor to one of the unit’s more established voices.
“(I’ve been working to) get stronger, get faster and become a leader, be someone that the young guys can look up to and be a shoulder that they can lean on and just establish just a brotherhood here, and we've done a damn good job,” Wein said.
Junior linebacker Cole Sullivan, who arrived from Michigan after recording 44 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions in 2025, joined to help the Sooners take the next step.
Wein said Sullivan’s presence has already stood out within the unit.
“He’s going to be a big addition to our defense, and he’s going to help us win,” Wein said. “He has high standards, … and he’s really competitive — something we need in our defense, especially in that linebacker room.”
Across all three levels, the focus has remained consistent: improve execution, reduce mistakes and rely on emerging leaders to maintain continuity. That responsibility has extended to players like junior defensive back Peyton Bowen, who is adjusting to a larger leadership role as younger players in the secondary enter the program.
“I try to lead by example as much as I can because … these young guys look up to me,” Bowen said. “So I got to make sure I'm leading by example, no matter who's watching.”
As OU continues through spring practice, the emphasis will rest on translating offseason development into on-field consistency, particularly for a defense balancing new faces with rising leaders.
This story was edited by Joshua McDaniel.
