Oklahoma 2023 Report Cards: Improved Defence Was Started by Defensive Ends

The Oklahoma defence line deserves a great deal of the credit for the team’s 2023 defensive gains. Major acquisitions support Miguel Chavis’ defensive end rotation, which primarily rolls with an even front and gives OU’s defence regular advantages. OU averaged 7.5 tackles per game, which was fifth, while the Sooners held opponents to 138.6 rushing yards per game, finishing 42nd nationally.

Leading the way was team captain Ethan Downs, who finished the season with 29 tackles, including 4.5 sacks and one interception to lead the way. As Oklahoma’s front-line rush defenders, he worked well in tandem with Wake Forest transfer Rondell Bothroyd, who added 25 tackles and a fumble recovery. Downs concluded the season ranked No. 21 among conference edge defenders by Pro Football Focus, while Bothroyd was the third-best edge defender in the Big 12 behind only Austin Booker of Kansas and Anthony Goodlow of Oklahoma State.

Transfer to OSU In his rookie season, Trace Ford added eighteen tackles and a pick while playing under Brent Venables. R Mason Thomas finished the season with nine tackles and a sack, despite missing the majority of it recovering from an ankle ailment. Both true freshman Adepoju Adebawore and veteran Marcus Stripling had a lot of playing time; Adepoju finished with six tackles and 2.5 sacks.

OU’s rushing defence was ranked No. 31 overall by PFF at the end of the season, just behind Texas and Iowa State among Big 12 universities; nevertheless, the Sooners’ pass defence was still a problem. With opponents averaging 250.8 yards per game, Oklahoma’s passing defence was rated 109th in the nation. The inconsistent pass rush contributed to some of the Sooners’ defensive problems.

When combined with an emphasis on getting the ball out fast, teams frequently kept a running back in to help protect their quarterback, negating OU’s ability to apply pressure.