Oklahoma Sooners ILB coach Nate Dreiling has gotten the attention of a potential Danny Stutsman replacement
This new era of the Oklahoma Sooners football program breeds NFL players on the defensive side of the ball. They just had Danny Stutsman get drafted to the New Orleans Saints and Billy Bowman to the Atlanta Falcons. But, now they need replacements. They already somewhat have them in place for this next year, but […]
This new era of the Oklahoma Sooners football program breeds NFL players on the defensive side of the ball. They just had Danny Stutsman get drafted to the New Orleans Saints and Billy Bowman to the Atlanta Falcons.
But, now they need replacements. They already somewhat have them in place for this next year, but no one truly knows what will happen in the years after this next one. In fact, no one knows what will happen then either. But, if anyone knows Brent Venables, a guy who always has good defenses and always recruits well on the defensive side of the ball, then they know that replacing those two shouldn't be an issue.
In fact, for a long-term replacement and a guy that fits exactly what Stutsman did, the Sooners may already have a replacement in mind. Now, they just have to get the kid to commit. And right now, they are making it awfully hard for the kid to ignore what they're telling him.
Sooners getting attention of 2026 LB Mason Marden
Mason Marden, a 6’3”, 220-pound linebacker from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in St. Louis, Missouri, is a three-star prospect in the class of 2026. Ranked No. 59 nationally among linebackers and No. 9 in Missouri by 247Sports, he’s known for his physicality, and versatility, as he doesn't just play one style or one position.
Marden has over a dozen offers from Power Four schools, including Michigan State, Wisconsin, Kansas, Kentucky, and Arizona State, with additional offers from Cincinnati, Purdue, Stanford, Louisville, and Minnesota.
In 2024, Marden was a key part of Ladue Horton Watkins’ defense, showcasing his tackling and coverage skills. He’s scheduled official visits to Michigan State, Kansas, and Wisconsin in June 2025, with Wisconsin seen as a frontrunner after a strong visit where he felt a good fit.
As a St. Louis native, Marden is part of Missouri’s talented 2026 class. His size, work ethic, and defensive skills make him a rising recruit, likely to climb the rankings after his junior season. And after a visit with Oklahoma, he now has his attention turned to Nate Dreiling and the Sooners.
“The way he talks about the overall development process… is very intriguing to me," Marden said per Parker Thune of Rivals.
Dreiling knows a thing or two about linebackers, and especially knows defense. And, that's why Venables brought him on — can you imagine having a position coach like him who was just a head coach, an interim at that, but a head coach for a Division Onq school?
Marden sees what the Sooners are doing on the defensive side of the ball.
2026 four-star defender reveals a cool connection to the Oklahoma Sooners after receiving an offer
That could really help the Sooners.
