Oklahoma’s defensive front took another hit this week, and this one lands hard.
Junior defensive tackle David Stone suffered a lower-body injury at Monday’s practice, according to George Stoia of Sooner Scoop. Stoia reported that Stone will go through additional testing to determine how serious the injury is.
That’s a tough development for a player who entered the season with plenty of national buzz. Before the year, Stone was named a preseason All-American by several publications and also landed on the preseason All-SEC Coaches Second Team.
The 6-foot-3, 315-pound lineman opened 2026 slowly, with just four tackles in Oklahoma’s games against UTEP and Michigan, and none of them went for a loss. But Stone reminded everyone what made him such a prized player against New Mexico. In the Sooners’ 14-6 win over the Lobos, he piled up eight total tackles, three solo tackles, two tackles for loss and half a sack.
Stone’s rise has been a steady one since he arrived in Norman as a consensus 5-star recruit in 2024. He barely made a dent as a true freshman, finishing with six total tackles while appearing in all 13 games.
Then came 2025, when he broke through in a big way. The Del City, Okla., native finished with 42 total tackles, 16 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, becoming a key part of an Oklahoma defense that led the SEC in total defense, scoring defense and sacks.
He’s also viewed as one of the top defensive line prospects in college football and a possible early NFL Draft pick. ESPN’s Jordan Reid projected Stone to the New York Jets with the No. 12 overall selection in a mock draft released in August.
Now Oklahoma may have to manage without him for a while, including potentially the Georgia game. If Stone is sidelined, the Sooners will need a new piece to step in next to Jayden Jackson on the interior. Among the backup defensive tackles who have already seen game action this season are Trent Wilson, Nigel Smith II, Braxton Fely, Danny Saili and Bishop Thomas.
Stone’s setback comes during a growing injury problem for OU’s defense. Linebacker Kip Lewis was hurt against Michigan and sat out the New Mexico game, though Brent Venables said last week that the injury is less severe than the staff first believed. Linebackers Cole Sullivan and Michael Boganowski also missed the New Mexico game after getting banged up against Michigan.
In Other News...
Former Sooners Are Making Oklahomas Offensive Questions Even Louder
The departure of a few Sooners has only sharpened the conversation around Oklahomas offense, because the production those players are finding elsewhere is hard to ignore. Javonnie Gibson has settled in at Cincinnati and boosted his receiving numbers, Michael Hawkins Jr. is giving West Virginia a real dual-threat presence, Zion Ragins is carving out meaningful work as a pass catcher, and Jake Taylor has emerged as both a starter and team captain at Iowa State.
For Oklahoma, the part that stings is less about the exits themselves than what they suggest about fit and usage. Each player appears to have benefited from a different offensive setup and a clearer role than he had in Norman, which only adds weight to the questions already hanging over the Sooners as they search for more consistency and identity on that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Offensive Struggles Just Put Jim Nagy In A Tough Spot
Oklahomas offensive woes have quickly turned into a larger roster question for the Sooners, and it lands squarely on the shoulders of general manager Jim Nagy and coach Brent Venables. The issues are not limited to execution on game day, either. Recent additions have not yet solved the problem, injuries have exposed thin spots, and the overall depth picture on offense has started to look shakier than it did when the roster was assembled.
The concern reaches beyond the obvious offensive struggles and into linebacker, where the Sooners are also feeling the effects of personnel decisions. One part of the discussion has centered on former linebacker Sammy Omosigho and whether keeping him would have helped stabilize the group. For a staff trying to build a more reliable roster, the combination of uneven play, injuries and second-guessing a few key departures makes the current situation more complicated than just finding better production on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Suddenly Has A New Defensive Concern Before Georgia
Oklahomas defensive front took a hit Monday when starting tackle David Stone left practice with a lower-body injury and will need further testing to determine how serious it is. Stone had only recently become a key starter, and the timing makes the situation especially delicate with Georgia on deck.
The concern is not just about one practice absense, but about what Stone has meant to a unit that was counting on his continued rise after a strong outing against New Mexico. For Oklahoma, the next update on his condition will loom large, because the Sooners could be looking at a much different interior defense if he is sidelined for any length of time. [Read more 🡒]