RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesThe Oklahoma Sooners ' defensive front seven has become one of the best in college football after a disruptive and productive 2025. Despite the losses of Gracen Halton , Damonic Williams, Marvin Jones, Jr., and R Mason Thomas , there's an expectation that the unit will once again be one of the best in the sport.
CBS Sports ranked their top front-sevens in college football, and the Sooners came in at No. 1 in the nation .
Oklahoma's front seven is led by All-SEC second-team defensive end Taylor Wein and preseason All-SEC selection David Stone at defensive tackle. Fellow defensive tackle Jayden Jackson will play a huge role for the Sooners and be as impactful as anyone on OU's defense.
The Sooners need guys like Nigel Smith, Trent Wilson, Bishop Thomas, and James Carrington to raise the talent floor in the defensive tackle rotation. Smith, Wilson, and Carrington were four-star prospects coming out of high school and have the talent and ability to be disruptive in Oklahoma's defense. But they haven't played meaningful snaps at the collegiate level.
To round out the starting lineup, a competition between Adepoju Adebawore, Danny Okoye, Kenny Ozowalu, and others will determine the snap distribution opposite Wein. But in Brent Venables' defense, you can expect the defensive line to make plays in the backfield throughout the 2026 season. There may not be an answer, but the Sooners like the talent they have to work with in 2026.
Then there's the linebacker corps, which might be the best in college football. Three-year starter Kip Lewis leads the way along with 2025's breakout star Owen Heinecke and high-profile Michigan transfer Cole Sullivan. Add in cheetah Reggie Powers, who was great in his rotational role last season, and the Sooners have a fast and physical group of linebackers.
While Oklahoma is replacing key starters at the first and second levels of the defense, Venables and his staff have the team in position to be just as good up front with the way they've recruited and developed the depth on defense.
The expectations are high for Oklahoma's defense. After what we saw in 2025, there's no reason to think they can't be as good as they were a year ago.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners front seven the best in college football
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