Oklahoma’s defense is heading into 2026 with a major piece gone, but the Sooners believe the edge-rush room is in better shape because of what R Mason Thomas left behind.
Thomas, who finished his college career on Dec. 19, 2025 in Oklahoma’s 34-24 loss to Alabama in the College Football Playoff First Round, was taken by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He spent all four seasons of his college career in Norman and became one of the most disruptive defenders on the roster by the end of it.
“R Mason left a really good foundation for us,” OU defensive end Taylor Wein said at SEC Media Days in Tampa, FL, on Monday.
That foundation was built over time. Thomas played in 42 games and made 20 starts across his Oklahoma career, but he did not crack the starting lineup until his junior season.
Once he did, the production came fast. His 2024 breakout included 23 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries, good enough for Second Team All-SEC honors.
He followed that with another strong year in 2026, even while missing three games because of an injury. Thomas still finished with 26 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble returned for a touchdown, and he earned First Team All-SEC recognition.
By the time he was an upperclassman, Thomas had also become a mentor for the younger players around him.
“Being able to pour into the young guys is huge, and R Mason did a really good job,” Wein said. “He was a really good example of what the University of Oklahoma should look like.”
Wein was one of the players Thomas helped bring along. His own path looked a lot like Thomas’ in the early stages: one appearance as a true freshman in 2023, then 12 games as a backup in 2024 before he broke through in 2025. The 6-4, 270-pound defensive end became a star that season, leading Oklahoma with 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Now Wein is trying to pass that same approach down to the next wave.
“I’m trying to pour into the young guys. Like, ‘OK, I have some experience, let me help you guys and show you how it’s done,’” Wein said.
“I’ve been the last, and I’ve paved my way to being one of the first guys. I know what that feeling’s like.”
Thomas and Marvin Jones Jr. are both moving on to compete for NFL roster spots, but Oklahoma still has options on the edge. Adepoju Adebawore, a former 5-star recruit, is entering his senior season after his best college year to date.
Danny Okoye will be a redshirt sophomore after recording two sacks in 2025. The group also includes Kenny Ozowalu, Jake Kreul and Wyatt Gilmore.
Thomas’ value went beyond teaching, though. He was the kind of player who could flip a game with one snap. In 2025, he delivered the game-winning sack for a safety against Auburn and later returned a fumble 71 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee.
That mix of leadership and big-play production is part of why Wein says Thomas mattered so much to the program.
“R Mason taught us many things, especially on the field, when it came to how to play and also how to capitalize in big moments,” Wein said.
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