The 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.
#Sooners #smith
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.
#Sooners #smith
14 days ago
