With the Oklahoma Sooners' offense floundering, the Sooners' 2024 season will rest on the shoulders of their talented defense. Oklahoma's defense has already showed up and showed out this season and has proven they can keep the Sooners in games as long as the offense does its job. 

Led by stars like linebacker Danny Stutsman, safety Billy Bowman, and defensive tackle Damonic Williams, Oklahoma's defense is on pace to finish the season as a Top-10 unit in the country. To keep up their hot start, however, the Sooners will need to have their depth continue to shine behind their bright stars.

Oklahoma Sooners defense puts on a masterclass against the Tennessee Volunteers in SEC opener

The Brent Venables defense has finally arrived to Norman, Oklahoma. They had played well in the first three games, but their performance against Tennessee signaled to all just how ready the defense was.  The Sooners held a Volunteers' offense that was averaging almost 64 points a game to just 25. Tennessee averaged 336.3 rushing yards […]

Fortunately, they've already had several young players take steps forward to help boost this defense.

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DE R Mason Thomas

We've heard the praise surrounding Thomas for years now, and the talent is finally starting to click on the field now that he's fully healthy. Just a week after being named the Bronko Nagurski National Player of the Week against Tulane, Thomas recorded a sack against the Tennessee Volunteers. 

Thomas leads the team in sacks and has been their most disruptive pass rusher on the season. The Sooners will need him to continue or even improve his pass-rushing prowess this season, but he's delivered on the hype so far.

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LB Lewis Carter

Lost in the mix behind Stutsman, Kip Lewis, and Kobie McKinzie, Carter has been tremendous every time he's stepped onto the field. Carter might have earned a bigger role after a stellar performance against Tennessee this week.

Despite playing just 22 snaps, Carter finished tied for first on the team in total stops, splitting the title with safety Robert Spears-Jennings with five a piece. 

At the very least, Oklahoma should feel confident that they have a budding young piece ready to step up if any of their starting linebackers miss time with an injury. It's been a long time since the Sooners have been able to say that. 

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Safety Robert Spears-Jennings

Many assumed that Oklahoma's safety room would be led by their two superstar safeties in Bowman and Peyton Bowen. However, it's been junior Robert Spears-Jennings who has stolen the show and been one of the best safeties in the country so far this season. 

That's not taking away anything from Bowman or Bowen, of course, both of whom have made numerous plays this season, but Spears-Jennings has been sensational for the Sooners. Only Stutsman has more defensive stops recorded this season for Oklahoma than Spears-Jennings. 

Spears-Jennings was a breakout candidate I listed over the summer, and so far he's delivered and even exceeded my expectations.