We’re taking a look at each position group as Oklahoma prepares to open spring practice on March 11. The sixth of a 10-part series looks at the defensive line.
As Oklahoma prepares to make its long-anticipated move to the SEC, perhaps no position group is more important for the Sooners—at least defensively—than the defensive line group overseen by Todd Bates and Miguel Chavis.
The SEC is, above all else, a line-of-scrimmage league, and the Sooners should head into their inaugural season in their new conference feeling optimistic about the outlook along that side of the line of scrimmage. Oklahoma lost its share of experience and production up front, with the likes of Rondell Bothroyd, Isaiah Coe, Jordan Kelley and Jonah Laulu all exhausting their eligibility. The unit also took another hit ahead of the start of spring practices, when defensive tackle Jacob Lacey announced his retirement due to a second bout with pulmonary embolisms.
In spite of those losses, the Sooners have a wealth of talent along the defensive front that was bolstered by a highly touted 2024 signing class, many of whom should factor into the rotation this fall. In the meantime, Bates and Chavis will work to develop a formidable rotation up front as the Sooners look to build upon a defense that ranked inside the top-50 last season against the run and 11th nationally in tackles for loss despite struggling to stack up sack numbers (often due to opposing offenses gameplanning around the pass-rush with max protections and a quick passing game).
