Oklahoma’s defense might be the best unit in the SEC this season, and early fall camp intel is only strengthening that case.

Per Brody Lusk of Sooners Illustrated on 247Sports, two defenders made a ton of noise during the Sooners’ latest scrimmage, and the reports should have the rest of the conference on notice. The first player was defensive tackle Jayden Jackson, who apparently wreaked havoc in the run game. Everyone knows about Taylor Wein and David Stone, but the average fan doesn’t know about Jackson. He is a gifted interior defender with the upside to be a top-100 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. If that trajectory continues, which it sounds like it is, this defensive line is going to be nasty.

Oklahoma’s interior defensive line is going to be a problem for opponents

Not enough people recognize that Jackson and Stone are one of the best defensive tackle tandems in the country. The combination of Stone’s explosive first step and Jackson’s disruptive ability against the run gives Oklahoma a pairing that can match up with anyone in the conference.

Brent Venables has quietly assembled one of the deepest defensive line rooms in the sport, and the production from both players could put the rest of the SEC on its heels.

A versatile and budding star on the back end

The second standout from the scrimmage was a name and a role that caught me off guard. Defensive back Reggie Powers III is reportedly being deployed in a manner that makes him nearly impossible to stop. Powers is playing the cheetah position in this defense, making him a legitimate threat to get after the quarterback. He reportedly had three sacks in the scrimmage. That kind of versatility from a defensive back is rare, and it adds another layer to an already loaded front.

It sounds like Venables has finally built this roster after multiple years in the mold of the elite units he used to have at Clemson. The Sooners’ defense struggled during their first few seasons in the SEC, but the talent accumulation through recruiting and development is reaching a tipping point. With a dominant defensive line tandem, a versatile chess piece in Powers, and a coaching staff that has proven it can maximize defensive talent, the pieces are in place for Oklahoma to field one of the most feared defenses in the country.

One thing is for sure: don’t be surprised if Venables and the Sooners shock the SEC and the rest of college football this fall.