Oklahoma’s front is built around a pair of starters that could be as good as anyone in the country this season, but the bigger question in Norman is what happens behind them.
David Stone and Jayden Jackson give the Sooners a foundation at defensive tackle, yet Brent Venables has spent the offseason thinking about the interior depth after the departures of Gracen Halton and Damonic Williams. Those two combined to start 33 games and log 1,612 snaps over the last two seasons, leaving a gap that has to be filled by players who have not had much of a chance to prove themselves.
"Every good defense is going to be good because you're strong up the middle of the defense," Venables said. "Will we be?
I don't know. Do we have the potential to be?
Absolutely. I want to see it."
That puts Nigel Smith II and Trent Wilson squarely in the spotlight. Oklahoma is counting on both to grow into regular pieces of the rotation at defensive tackle this fall, and the Sooners’ overall line quality will depend heavily on how quickly they come along. The two combined for only 42 defensive snaps in 2025, so the challenge is less about talent than it is about turning development into dependable production.
Still, the staff sounds confident in the direction those two are heading. Defensive tackles coach Todd Bates pointed to the path so many players take before they become trusted contributors.
"Every veteran started as an amateur," defensive tackles coach Todd Bates said. "They're just at the spot where they're finally getting an opportunity, and they've been preparing for it."
In Other News...
David Stone Just Raised Expectations For Oklahoma Freshman Tank Carrington
David Stones confidence in James Tank Carrington adds another layer to Oklahomas defensive front as the Sooners continue sorting out how the true freshman fits into the picture. Stone singled out Carringtons football IQ, technical ability and feel for the position, pointing to a player who already looks advanced in some areas and has enough size and instinct to make an early impression.
The praise also came with a clear reminder of what still separates promise from production. Stone said Carrington can diagnose blocks and use his hands well, but the next step is doing it more consistently, the part that usually decides how quickly a young lineman earns real trust. For Oklahoma, that makes Carrington one of those freshmen worth watching closely, because the traits are there and the path to a bigger role is already taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Wittens Praise Puts Oklahoma TE Battle In Focus
Trynae Washingtons first year in Norman was mostly spent out of the spotlight, as the true freshman redshirted in 2025 and saw only limited action. Even so, the Oklahoma tight end has started to draw notice from new position coach Jason Witten, who has singled out Washingtons work ethic, physical development and upside heading into the next season.
Wittens comments matter because the Sooners have crowded the tight end room with transfers and recruits, turning 2026 into a real proving ground for anyone trying to carve out snaps. Washington now has the benefit of another offseason to build on what hes already shown, but the path forward will be shaped by how he stacks up in a group that looks much deeper than it did a year ago. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Running Back Battle Is Becoming A Real Preseason Focus
As fall camp draws closer, Oklahomas running back competition is starting to look like one of the more important position battles on the roster. Ben Arbuckle said junior Xavier Robinson is back at practice and back in the mix with Lloyd Avant and Jonathan Hatton Jr., giving the Sooners a three-man group to sort through as they prepare for the season opener.
The added wrinkle is the presence of new running backs coach Deland McCullough, who is already working with the room to sharpen the ground game. Arbuckle sounded upbeat about both the development of the backs and the way the staff is handling the competition, but the real answer still has to play out once the pads come on and the evaluation gets serious. [Read more 🡒]