Oklahoma may have found the next name to circle on its defensive front, and David Pollack isn’t shy about the ceiling.
The college football analyst singled out Sooners defensive end Danny Okoye as a player who could turn heads this season, going so far as to say, "Okoye will be a problem," on 'See Ball Get Ball with David Pollack.'
That kind of buzz makes sense when you look at the profile. Okoye came to Norman as a four-star in the 2024 recruiting class, carrying the kind of developmental upside coaches love to bet on.
At 6-foot-3 and 258 pounds, he has the size you want on the edge, plus above-average explosiveness and frame potential. The catch, coming out of a lower-competition high school environment, was that he arrived as more of a raw project than a finished defender.
His first two seasons with the Sooners have reflected that. Okoye has worked in a limited rotational role, mostly showing up in pass-rush packages rather than as a steady every-down piece. In that span, he has posted six tackles, two tackles for loss and two sacks.
Now the path is a little clearer. With R Mason Thomas off to the NFL, Oklahoma has a spot to fill in its EDGE rotation, and Okoye is one of the players in position to grab it. He’s not there yet, but he has clearly caught the eye of national evaluators, Pollack included.
Pollack, a former All-American EDGE defender himself, has pointed to traits such as first-step explosiveness and leverage when discussing Okoye, the kind of tools that make a player intriguing before the production fully catches up.
For Oklahoma, the next stage is straightforward: more snaps, more consistency against the run and more reliable output in SEC-level games. If that comes together, Okoye could grow into a key rotational EDGE with starter upside by 2026. If not, the raw talent will remain just that - talent waiting for a weekly impact.
In Other News...
Oklahoma May Be Closing In On Another Big Texas Recruiting Win
Oklahomas recruiting push into Texas has a familiar feel to it, and the Sooners are back in the mix for another priority target from the Lone Star State. The player drawing the latest attention has already picked up multiple Power Four offers, and the appeal is obvious: athleticism, speed and the kind of playmaking ability that can translate quickly once he gets on campus.
Recent forecast chatter has only added to the momentum around Oklahomas pursuit, with more than one analyst pointing the same way. The Sooners are also trying to fend off a mix of regional and national competition, and if they can land him, they see a natural fit at safety with a chance to compete for a role in the secondary. [Read more 🡒]
Sooners Came Uncomfortably Close In Another Major Texas Recruiting Battle
Oklahoma spent the spring trying to make up ground with Brandon Sherrard, and the late effort was real enough to put the Sooners back in the mix for one of the better defensive backs in the 2027 class. The four-star corner from Texas had offers from a long list of major programs, and Oklahomas push included an offer in May and an official visit shortly after, giving the Sooners a legitimate shot in a battle that also drew LSU and others.
Instead, another Texas recruiting fight went the other way, leaving Oklahoma to keep building around other targets in the class. Sherrards profile made him the kind of addition that could have changed the shape of OUs cornerback group, so his decision is another reminder of how thin the margins can be when the Sooners go head-to-head with the Longhorns for elite in-state talent. [Read more 🡒]