Nik Bonitto and Isaiah Thomas left a few holes in Oklahoma’s line of defense.
The move speeding duo are within the midst of their first NFL coaching camp experiences, which means Brent Venables and Miguel Chavis should discover a pair of replacements this yr.
Reggie Grimes and Ethan Downs are poised to step into a lot bigger roles this yr, and the Sooners landed Hawaii switch Jonah Laulu out of the portal.
The names who will attempt to fill Thomas and Bonitto’s footwear are identified, however the snap counts and starters are nonetheless to be decided.
With all of the completely different seems Venables’ protection will make use of, there might be loads of snaps to go round.
But how these snaps get divvied up might be determined in fall camp.
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Despite being a real sophomore, Downs was picked to symbolize the Sooners at Big 12 Media Days final month, which can be an early indication of how the teaching workers feels concerning the Weatherford product.
This wouldn’t be the one teaching workers Downs has impressed both.
Ethan Downs shined in his function as Sooner spokesman at Big 12 Media Days
Jerome Miron / USA TODAY Sports
Last yr, Downs was referred to as upon in all 13 video games, and he delivered. Downs completed the yr with 14 tackles, three tackles for loss, 0.5 quarterback sacks and a compelled fumble in restricted motion.
And now below the watchful eye of returning power coach Jerry Schmidt, Downs is making ready to deliver much more physicality on the sting this yr taking part in at 263 kilos.
Grimes is one other man who’s poised to tackle a much bigger function in 2022.
After Thomas and Bonitto opted out of the Alamo Bowl, the then-sophomore was rolled out as one of many vocal leaders of OU’s protection.
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The Antioch, TN, native backed it up on the sphere towards the Ducks by ending the competition with three tackles and 0.5 sacks.
His efficiency in San Antonio was the cherry on prime of a productive yr the place Grimes typically discovered himself within the backfield.
Now, Chavis may have the pair of skilled Sooners to lean on at defensive finish earlier than he ever needed to dip into the portal.
Laulu brings a unique physique sort to the fold, nevertheless.
Jonah Laulu provides extra measurement to Oklahoma’s line of defense after arriving from Hawaii by way of the switch portal
Kevin Jairaj / USA TODAY Sports
At 6-foot-5 and 260 kilos, Chavis described the Hawaii switch as a “dancing bear” throughout spring observe, one thing which was on full show in the course of the Spring Game.
The Sooners rolled out loads of distinctive seems defensively, together with lining Laulu up throughout from the tight finish on one event.
With eight profession sacks to his identify, Laulu is hoping to thrive below the tutelage of one of the best teaching workers he’s ever performed for.
A wild card on the place is also redshirt freshman Kelvin Gilliam.
Perhaps no participant underwent a bigger bodily change this offseason, because the Richmond product enters the yr at 293 kilos.
A former 4-star recruit, Gilliam solely noticed motion in 4 video games final yr.
Gilliam’s senior yr of highschool featured a spring soccer season attributable to COVID, so the highly-touted lineman loved his first true offseason of his collegiate profession following the Alamo Bowl.
New faces will take over Chavis’ defensive finish room in 2022, however the Sooners have greater than sufficient expertise to nonetheless get manufacturing on the sting this season.
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