Reggie Powers III carved out a real role at Oklahoma’s cheetah spot late last season, and now the Sooners sound like they’re building real depth behind him.
Powers, then a sophomore, played in all 13 games in 2025 and logged most of his snaps at the hybrid linebacker-defensive back position. He finished with 31 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack, and Brent Venables said last week that Powers has “had a great (fall) camp.”
Even with Powers entrenched there, Venables made it clear Oklahoma has other options.
“We’ve got several guys that can give us what we need there,” Venables said.
One of the names to watch is Michigan transfer Cole Sullivan. He put together a strong 2025 season for the Wolverines, finishing with 44 tackles, five tackles for loss, three interceptions, two sacks, a pass breakup, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Michigan also named him its co-most improved defensive player.
Sullivan should be part of the mix at linebacker, especially with Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke back after their 2025 seasons. But Venables said Sullivan has also been getting work at cheetah during fall camp, which gives Oklahoma another experienced body for that spot.
Junior linebacker James Nesta is another possibility. He played in all 13 games last year, though most of that work came on special teams.
Still, Nesta has drawn steady praise from teammates and coaches all offseason, and he looks set for a bigger defensive role in 2026. With Lewis, Heinecke and Sullivan ahead of him in experience, Nesta could end up as a dependable backup at both linebacker and cheetah.
Jeremiah Newcombe is also in the conversation. Injuries kept the defensive back from making much of an impact in his first two seasons at OU, and Venables said he has dealt with “some nicks and bruises” this offseason. Even so, the coach said Newcombe has looked good at cheetah when he’s been able to get on the field.
“When he's been out there, he's done a great job as well,” Venables said.
Newcombe arrived as a 4-star prospect, but the injuries have slowed his chance to show what he can do. Cheetah could give him that opening.
Freshman cornerback Lebron Bauer, the final player from OU’s Class of 2026 to sign, has also made an impression there. Venables said Bauer has done “some great things” at cheetah. The Allen, Texas, native is listed at 6-foot and 184 pounds and showed off his versatility at Allen High School, where he was named Texas District 6-6A Utility Player of the Year.
Bauer should factor into special teams right away, and senior safety Peyton Bowen said he could also work his way into the defensive rotation.
“(He’s) always trying to compete, always trying to get in there,” Bowen said. “He just makes plays, to be honest. The fact that he's in those positions to make those plays, it's just the little details being one step better.”
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Oklahoma Added A Transfer Brent Venables Could Use All Over The Field
Oklahoma kept busy in the transfer portal this offseason, bringing in 16 newcomers and adding another layer to a defense that already has some experience at linebacker. Among the additions is Cole Sullivan, who arrives from Michigan with the kind of profile Brent Venables tends to value: versatility, leadership and the ability to help on special teams while learning multiple roles.
Venables has made it clear Sullivan can be used all over the field, which matters for a defense that likes flexibility and depth. Sullivans path to Norman opened after Michigan changed head coaches, and his arrival gives Oklahoma another piece to work with as it sorts out how to deploy an already strong linebacker room. [Read more 🡒]