SOONERS SPRING DEFENSIVE INTEL: Can 2026 Defense Be Close to 2025 Version? | Position Breakdowns | Standouts | More
Between my 7,000 word Sooners’ spring offensive intel writeup to go with scrimmage notes, plus, Parker’s spring scrimmage intel, you would be hard pressed to find another place with more sourced intel on spring football than OUInsider VIP, so I hope it’s been worth it in the end.
Having said all of that, some of the biggest questions this spring for Oklahoma are going to come on the defensive side of the ball. We are hear to TRY and answer some of those questions for you all knowing it’s only 1/3rd of the way through spring practice as it is.
So here we go…
DEFENSIVE TACKLES: Can the Sooners Depth Play Well Enough for OU to Reach Its Team Goals in 2026?
Sooners DT coach/Co-DC Todd Bates giving instructions to defensive tackles during OU 2026 spring practice. Credit: Brandon Drumm – OUInsider.com
The defensive tackle position has been a big, big strength for OU over the last few seasons. As long as David Stone and Jayden Jackson remain healthy, I would fully expect that to be the case once again in 2026. However, for OU to reach their full potential on the defensive side of the ball, there is going to need to be some big growth from redshirt sophomore Nigel Smith, redshirt freshman Trent Wilson and a surprise with early enrollee freshman Tank Carrington.
That growth started in the winter for Smith, Wilson and Carrington, but it needs to take another big jump during spring practice. A jump that OU head coach Brent Venables says has been taking place with Nigel Smith (who started his career at DE).
“So the young guys, I’ve been really impressed. Again, it’s not just yesterday and today. It’s over the last several months,” Sooners head coach Brent Venables said of the growth he’s noticed from the young defensive tackles this offseason. “And the maturity, the work that they’ve put in in the film room has shown up. So we’ve seen that in walkthroughs and things like that over the last sevel weeks.
And Nigel Smith has been really good. Trent Wilson, they’re both much better than when we finished the season.”
Venables went on to talk exclusively about freshman DT Tank Carrington as well. The freshman DT has not only made huge strides in his play on the field, but it’s how he attacks his everyday life that has really made the OU head coach take notice. To the point that he made a comparison between the freshman DT and one of the top DTs in all of CFB in Jayden Jackson.
“Tank’s done a nice job. His fundamentals and block rec. are really good. That’s why Jayden Jackson played at the level that he did and got in right away because he could play the run and understand, you know, how to play a double team and how to stay on your feet when the run goes away from you and where to put your eyes and your hands,” Venables said of the similarities between Carrington and former the freshman All-American DT. “And so Tank has done a nice job with that. And is a really good powerful guy, every day he’s probably gaining two or three pounds. He’s really committed and everything’s simple for him in his life so that usually bleeds over into football too.”
Sources that OUInsider has spoken with seem to relay similar things about the young defensive tackles. Most sources seem glow about how Nigel Smith has taken a big step in his weight and his overall play on the interior of the defensive line, with one source adding, “He battled some injuries that made him a bit skittish in how he attacked things at times,” the source noted about Smith. “He’s taken a big step and made some plays this spring that is surprising a lot of people. Just playing with that aggression and mindset that we have seen since January. He’s really embraced the move to DT a lot lately and it’s showing in his play.”
Smith talked about how that move took place to DT when he spoke with media the other day. The RS Soph DT said that he knew with his dad’s size it was going to be a possibility, but it wasn’t until about 12 months ago (with some injuries last year that derailed him) that he went full-go on the move to DT.
“It has always been a thought in the back of my mind. My pops is a pretty big guy. Knew I could put on some size and stay this athletic. Kind of like Jonah [La’ulu] did.” Smith said of his initial move to DT and why that conversation took place. “That was a convo I had with him about it. Had that convo with him, Coach [Todd] Bates, Coach [Miguel] Chavis and Coach V. Knew that at the end of freshman season, started repping it and put on that size.”
In speaking to sources about a few of the other DTs, it does seem that Nigel Smith and Trent Wilson will be very important to the Sooners’ success this coming 2026 season. One source made it clear they have both taken huge, positive steps in the right direction, but also said there is a ways to go.
“Nigel [Smith] has made some progress to the point you feel he can or will be a viable contributor this coming season,” source noted on the former hybrid DE/DT and now exclusively DT Nigel Smith. “He has to continue to play with more strength and aggression because DT is different than DE. Nigel is getting there. You see it in waves with him right now. I think he will be ready come August. Coach Bates will have him right.”
Another source also added some interesting intel on redshirt freshman Trent Wilson as well.
“He was getting it at the end of 2025 and you could see the lightbulb getting brighter and brighter each practice,” source told OUInsider about DT Trent Wilson. “I think he makes an even bigger jump as spring continues. He and Nigel [Smith] have gotten so many reps already. You see their play getting better and better. A ways to go to reach Dam [Williams] and G-Baby [Gracen Halton], but that is due to youth and inexperience. But if they can ever get to where they are in that ballpark things will go pretty well for the DL. Both just so young right now.”
Just so we are clear, Nigel Smith echoed something very similar when he spoke to the media the other day. OU doesn’t make it a habit to give the media access to players that aren’t going to be making plays for the Sooners during the season, so the fact Smith said he and Wilson have to “get right” and use their reps for the betterment of their play and team success shows that the young DT duo gets it.
“Me and Trent just have to get right. This gives us the opportunity to get all these starter reps. Go against our starters in the whole spring whenever it comes to competition, we are the first ones that are going to be called up,” the RS Soph DT told the media recently. “It is also good for our young guys. We have a deep room but this is going to help build the competitive depth because of the fact if they mess up, we are not going to take you out. You gotta go through that fire. You are going to get those reps. It is as important for us as it is for them.”
Those two aren’t alone, they have to play well — along with freshman DT Tank Carrington — but so does Georgia State transfer DT Bishop Thomas. The transfer DT has been “pretty good” since arrival, per sources. That said, OU is going to need him to be more than that moving forward. When we spoke with DE Taylor Wein, he told media he liked how Thomas is developing and fitting in with the team. Wein made it seem like Thomas is moving in the right direction on the field and as a leader of the young DT group.
“He’s versatile, he’s explosive,” Sooners All-American DE Taylor Wein said of transfer DT Bishop Thomas. “He’s an older guy so he has a lot of ball knowledge and you get guys like that in here and hungry and an older guy that is pouring into the young guys, he brings a lot of value to this team and this D-Line.”
A source that OUInsider spoke with this past week noted that Thomas was a bit of a do-it-all type for Oklahoma and Todd Bates in the middle of that defensive line. They echoed some similar things that Wein did about the transfer DT, but also added a monicker for him that if not explained could be assumed to be negative — it wasn’t. The source really likes the versatility that Thomas provides for OU in the middle.
“Bishop is what some would call a mutt that is a mixture of pass rush DT and a run stopper,” the source said and laughed. “And he has to be with his size not being the biggest at DT. Thomas is good against the run and has flashes where you can have him in on third down and obvious passing situations. Again, he’s not the biggest but he gets the job done when he’s in — no matter the situation. Gotta like what he’s shown so far.”
As for the David Stone and Jayden Jackson, those two have very high expectations for 2026.
“David [Stone] has become such a cerebral player to go with his ability. He has a chance to have a really special year as long as he stays healthy. He has grown as a leader too,” source said of the ballyhooed Sooners DT. “Jayden [Jackson] is coming back from his shoulder surgery, but he is so consistent in his play and how he works. Those two will be a force in their third year together.”
The play of the DL will be very dependent on how the youthful DTs play behind Stone and JJ in 2026. If Nigel Smith, Trent Wilson and Tank Carrington continue to grow and develop, and that play leads to success on the field, then OU fans won’t see much of a drop-off from the talented, experienced group in 2025. However, if things don’t progress you could see a very up and down start to the season in the middle of the DL.
That said, no matter the situation, I do think the DL will be really good come conference play. I, along with several others that are well-connected to the program, think that highly of the Todd Bates as a developer of talent.
No matter what, we are going to follow the DT room and their growth throughout on OUInsider VIP.
DEFENSIVE END: Experienced, Talented and Very High Expectations to Go Along With Lots of Youth
Sooners should be very strong at the edge rusher position even after losing standouts and future NFL Draft picks like R Mason Thomas and Marvin Jones Jr. With sack master and team leader Taylor Wein returning, along with super high ceiling Danny Okoye, former five-star and solid producing DE PJ Adebawore, along with solid transfer addition of Kenny Ozawulu and true freshman Jake Kreul, there is a lot to like a the edge rusher position for Oklahoma in 2026.
We didn’t even talk about the big growth of former instate four-star DE CJ Nickson and one of DE coach Miguel Chavis favorites in Wyatt Gilmore. That position is looking more and more like a longstanding strong point for the OU defense in 2026 and beyond. Especially with how young and talented it is and what they have committed (Rivals150 DE Krew Jones) and could add in 2027 as well.
2025 All-SEC DE Taylor Wein returns and is the ultimate leader of a group of very versatile and athletic edge rushers in 2026. The redshirt junior defensive end was downright special in 2025. Wein accumulated seven sacks, 15 TFLs, an INT, a forced fumble and amassed 41 total tackles in 2025. His return to OU was paramount for the Sooners’ continued success on defense and Oklahoma got it done, even with a much deserved NIL pay bump.
“Taylor had been getting very little up to this past season. He was one of the best DEs in the nation and so [OU] made sure he was taken care of in a much bigger way,” a source said of Wein getting what he deserved this offseason. “You still wouldn’t know it, though. He shows up to work everyday and works harder than just about everyone. He’s a culture guy on top of being one our best guys.”
A prime example of that was after practice No. 2, when we beat writers waited for quite some time after practice ended to talk with Wein. As we waited, we got to see him with paper in hand, garbage cans upside down and lined up to mimic an offensive line, and Wein teaching the whole the defensive line (particularly the edge rushers) proper alignment for certain calls and how to run those calls with timing, footwork and more.
That type of leadership isn’t something that just happens or you luck into. That is a cultural thing and something and Brent Venables and his staff have created. It’s also full buy-in by Wein to be that big of a leader and why the defense remains a strong point each season despite big draft picks being lost to the NFL each offseason.
So far, the spring has been no surprise with the pads going on and Wein turning it up another notch on the field. Even in the first scrimmage last week, sources were glowing about well the returning All-SEC DE played vs a very good offensive tackle unit in Michael Fasusi and E’Marion Harris.
“[Taylor] Wein had a few sacks and caused some problems off the edge [during the first scrimmage],” a source noted to OUInsider. “The two offensive tackles were good for a lot of the scrimmage, but Wein and Danny Okoye had their moments.”
Speaking of edge rusher Danny Okoye, if you’re talking about someone that should not only have a big spring, but also a big 2026 season altogether, I think you look no further than Okoye. He has come in very unsatisfied after a ‘good not great’ 2025 season. Okoye touched on that when he met with the media during the first week of spring ball.
“I don’t even think I had a good year last year. This year, I’m just trying to focus on the little things. Making the game slow down and focusing on the details. The standard is the standard. Doesn’t matter how I feel in the moment, just have to do my best to kind of uphold it,” Okoye said of his mindset this offseason and spring. “That is what I’m trying to do. This first week I’ve been trying to slow down my process, from re-snap to everything from eyes to my stance to my alignment. Coach [Miguel] Chavis is doing a good job of coaching that better. Even last year, I did not think we were taking those minute things as seriously as we needed to. It showed on the film. Especially this year as we looked at it in retrospect. So just trying to keep ourselves from getting burned again this year and attacking the weaknesses before they show up.”
Defensive leader and 2025 All-SEC DE Taylor Wein said he’s noticed that change and growth in Okoye as well. With that, Wein has high expectation for the redshirt sophomore edge rusher from Tulsa (OK).
“Really high [ceiling]. We expect a lot out of him this year,” Taylor Wein said of Okoye. “He’s progressed so much. Seeing Danny just develop, I’ve seen him since he got here as a young buck, he’s growing and he’s getting better and his best ball is ahead of him.”
When speaking to a source around Norman about Okoye, you get some of that similar talk. A source said it’s a maturity thing for Okoye and that the former OKPreps homeschool star has been more than focused this offseason.
“Danny has taken another step with his growth in the weight room, film room and wanting to lead,” a source said of the change they have seen Danny Okoye this offseason. “Practice hasn’t been much different. He stacking reps. He is wanting to be the best he can be and the buy-in has been immense with him. You can tell he has learned from Taylor [Wein] and R Mason [Thomas] the last few years what it takes.”
Senior DE PJ Adebawore is battling back from being a bit banged up. He, too, has been one that has grown physically and mentally the last few seasons. Adebawore will be a senior this fall, so the expectation for him has skyrocketed with him also likely to get more snaps in 2026 than he did 2025.
Source spoke about Adebawore’s offseason and how it got a bit interesting.
“He was in and out of the portal because there were some teams after him hard,” a source made note of the portal incident with Adebawore during the window in January. “[OU] made him think about it a bit more and really upped NIL for him to stay one more year. I don’t think anyone felt [OU] could afford to lose PJ [Adebawore], so you negotiate and [OU] did.”
What I can tell you is that Alabama was a program that made a very strong push for him and there was a time he was headed that way. Jim Nagy and company put the clamps on that in hopes Adebawore has a career season in 2026. As one source told OUInsider, “The potential for PJ is still there. He’s so long and twitchy. If he can become a bit more flexible on his pass rush dip and side-to-side movements, he could be special. But everyone still sees the same things that made him a five-star with his upside. That hasn’t changed at all with added weight and strength. Maybe even enhanced it a bit.”
Another source spoke of Adebawore and where he is now and what he could become with a strong off-season.
“He’s got a chance. He really made a big jump from sophomore to junior season so you hope there is another there in 2026,” source said of the growth with PJ Adebawore. “He became one of the best run-stopping edge rushers in the SEC last year. That was big for OU and the defense.”
After the main three at DE, you start to get into that “you’re only as good as your middle roster” portion of the position where the defensive tackles are working to regain their middle roster after losing all the talent and experience OU lost to the NFL and portal at the DT spots. That “you’re only as good as your middle roster” was what OUInsider quoted by a source in Norman (Back in December) and a Bama source last year. We spoke on the podcast about a Bama source saying OU was the best and deepest in the nation across the board when it came to their middle roster depth. Source said, “That’s why OU was so good in 2025. They had potential NFL talent as their third and fourth options.”
Naturally, the middle roster took a small, but noticeable, hit in 2026 when OU lost 10 draft-worthy players and NFL Combine invites, along with more to the portal after the 2025 season. That doesn’t mean some positions don’t have that middle depth, though. I would venture to guess that most would agree that OU has strong middle depth at defensive end, tight end (stark difference from 2025), wide receiver, running back and cornerback. That compares to QB, DT, DE, LB, S and CB in 2025.
Losing middle depth at a key position of defensive tackle was tough for OU, but something Oklahoma is working on remedying, while also making sure the middle portion of the defensive end room stays exactly where it is or better in the spring. Sooners head coach Brent Venables touched on that when he met with the media on Tuesday, April, 7th.
“Best part of a year ago’s defense was the and really last year’s football team was the middle half of our roster. And I thought that was probably as good as there was in college football,” Sooners head coach talked about the competitive depth in the middle of the roster being different than it was in 2025. “That took a hit, you know, to some degree and that’s probably like that in a lot of places, but that’s still again remains to be seen. We got a lot of work to do there. A lot of work to do, but some encouraging things and the test of time will tell, you know, just as far as that development is concerned and it’s really all three levels.”
As for the middle roster at defensive end, it’s the likes of Wyatt Gilmore, Jake Kreul and CJ Nickson that OU will rely heavily on. Some will ask why I didn’t throw transfer Kenny Ozawulu in that same category and that is because he is already close to 280lbs with another three months of offseason workouts still ahead of him. To me, and from what I have been told, he will be a tweener and a player they will likely play at both spots.
“He’s got the frame the ability to be a very Jalen Redmond and Jonah La’ulu type to where you can slide [Kenny] Ozawulu to interior and exterior of defensive line, if need be,” source noted. “Really do feel he will contribute in some form of that during the season.”
There is some high hopes on the true freshman edge rusher from IMG Academy, Jake Kreul. Multiple sources have spoken highly of the freshman edge rusher and how he has played this spring and performed during workouts and team practice periods this winter.
“[Jake] Kreul is a bit undersized, but he’s gotta motor that fits in to exactly what Coach Chavis wants out of his edge rushers,” source said. “He makes plays and has been working in the same group as Wein and Okoye this spring.”
Needless to say, there is some belief that Kreul will play and play early. Even before the Rivals300 edge rusher arrived in Norman, there were some saying as much.
“Oh, Kreul will play. I would actually be surprised if he isn’t used as a freshman and playing in some critical moments. Everything about him is play now, in my opinion,” well-connected source said of the freshman edge rusher.
Even OU GM Jim Nagy made some high praise on Jake Kreul during his national signing day presser when asked about him. I am going to just leave the full quote here for you all because Nagy truly did believe in Kreul from the jump and thinks he can play and be focal piece of the Sooners’ pass rush in 2026.
“The physical profile, in terms of length, but you can deviate from that. Not everyone has to fit, be cookie cutter. Jake has got some special stuff. When you talk about Jake and talk about how hard he works, people want to pigeonhole him as a try-hard guy, but he’s not that at all. He’s shot out of a cannon,” Sooners GM said of the highly touted freshman DE. “I hadn’t watched Jake’s tape because we’ve had him in the boat since the summer. I spent a lot of time every Monday watching our class and making sure they were playing up to where we thought they were. I didn’t do that with Jake for the first month of the season. When I put it on in early October, I forgot how fast he was coming off the ball. He’s a really good athlete. You don’t bend like that or change direction like that without being a high-level athlete. The goal is we have to find a quarterback every year. We have to find guys that protect the quarterback. And guys that affect the quarterback every year. That’s Jake. He’s going to hit home a ton. We expect him to be a part of that rotation with those sub package rotations next year. Getting in there and putting heat on the quarterback. That’s something he’s ready to do right now.”
With Wyatt Gilmore and CJ Nickson, I think you all should expect rotational minutes this year and much, much more out of them in 2027. I do think both will take a significant step in their games this coming season, but sources have said that playing with all the depth will be something that will be “worked through” as fall camp happens.
“Both have been working hard and putting on some good muscle and weight. Heck, CJ [Nickson] doesn’t even look like the same guy physically,” a source told OUInsider. “He’s really developed and with his athleticism, he has a chance as he keeps learning the DE position. His jumps in play have been big. Excited to see where May through July gets him before fall camp.”
With Wyatt [Gilmore], he is more refined. He is going to be play quite a bit, I would expect,” source said. “Lots of Taylor Wein there with his willing to work and willingness to be the best he can be. He keeps growing and he could be a good depth piece and maybe more this year.”
That is where the middle depth at DE is pretty special in comparison to DT right now. That middle depth is something we talk about more and more as the intel moves along. We first spoke about the middle roster depth being a huge strength of the Sooners 2025 squad back in December. The story is linked a few paragraphs above if you missed it.
That said, the overall play of the defensive end unit has an, arguably, higher ceiling in 2026 with Taylor Wein improving and the upside of guys like Danny Okoye and a more refined PJ Adebawore. Yes, you lose R Mason Thomas and Marvin Jones Jr, but Wein and Okoye could be higher draft picks at the end of the day, as long as they reach their production ceiling — or close to it. That’s the hope of the defense.
Add upside and pass rush ability of freshman Jake Kreul and the versatility of Kenny Ozuwalu, Wyatt Gilmore and CJ Nickson and you have a unit that could be even more productive in 2026. Also, we didn’t mention freshman Matthew Nelson, who will be a twitchy, quick and rangy DE when he gets developed over the next few seasons.
LINEBACKERS: Kip Lewis, Owen Heinecke Coming Back(?), Cole Sullivan, James Nesta, Taylor Heim, Jeremiah Newcombe and Reggie Powers III Intel
Sooners LB coach Nate Dreiling showing how to strike blocking sled during spring practice. Credit: Brandon Drumm- OUInsider.com
Oklahoma, Brent Venables and linebacker play have synonymous with how well OU has looked on the defensive side of the ball since 2022 and BV’s arrival in Norman. From All-American Danny Stutsman to the play of Owen Heinecke, Kip Lewis and more. There has always been a sense of confidence at the position, along with some solid depth dating back during BVs first tenure at OU as well.
Last season, you saw another step in the right direction with the addition of Nate Dreiling taking over for Zac Alley, who is now the DC at West Virginia. In Dreiling’s first season, the Sooners LB room took a massive step that saw huge jumps in play from the likes of Lewis and Heinecke, along with former Clemson DC Wes Goodwin coaching up Kendall Daniels and Reggie Powers III at cheetah in 2025.
The overall play of that position was some of the best in all of college football and that led to some really big games from the Sooners’ defensive unit. That play ultimately propelled Oklahoma to a CFP berth. Now, Oklahoma is looking to have similar success form the LB unit’s in 2026, with some big questions that have been left unanswered.
Particularly in regards to if Oklahoma will (rightfully so) have All-SEC LB Owen Heinecke back in 2026. If they do, the unit takes a HUGE step. But let me explain it all as we go through the LB unit as in-depth as you possibly can below.
*** Owen Heinecke Situation:
Dec 19, 2025; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Owen Heinecke (38) against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the CFP National Playoff First Round at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The biggest question right now is where OU stands with with the potential return of Owen Heinecke. The Oklahoman’s Colton Sulley reported on the NCAA’s response to Heinecke’s injunction. You can read it in the highlighted and italicized sentence above. The is an emergency hearing at 8:30 a.m. on April 16th that will be closure to all of this. Right now, the expectation is that Heinecke would “likely” get the injunction, but as they say, you don’t want to get the cart before the horses. That’s exactly how OU and Heinecke are operating as well.
Now, if the Sooners star LB does win the injunction, you’re looking at one of the best starting lineups in all of CFB at LB. Oklahoma would have Heinecke, Lewis and Powers III as their three LBs of sorts. You would also have quite the rotation with junior transfer Cole Sullivan and RS sophomore James Nesta, both, being big fixtures at LB. You also have the most hybrid of LBs in Taylor Heim. His athleticism allows him to play cheetah, but he can play ILB just as well for OU. Speaking of the cheetah position, you would have Jeremiah Newcombe, who OU had high hopes for last season prior to injury. That injury is essentially what allowed Powers to make his massive jump playing behind Kendal Daniels at cheetah.
“The unit has a chance to be good no matter what. So many around the program really do like what Nesta has shown up to this point,” source told OUInsider about the LB unit overall. “He has been one that coaches feel has a chance to be an NFL player when it’s all said and done.
[Cole] Sullivan has also been good from the moment he stepped on campus. He just has a maturity about him. He’s smart. He is strong and likes to work. All of that is why [OU] pushed so hard for him in the portal.”
Another source feels similar in that the LB room is good, but addition of Heinecke takes it to another level.
“You’re talking about adding a likely mid-round NFL draft pick to the lineup in Owen [Heinecke],” the source rightfully said with some exuberance. “He and Kip [Lewis] were two of the best in the SEC last year. You would think that would the case and more if Heinecke can return. And the best part is that Owen isn’t coming back for money or anything like that. He is coming back because he loves playing at OU. It’s that simple. Adding that to the locker room would be big on so many fronts.”
However, with that still in flux, Sooners head coach Brent Venables was asked about Cole Sullivan and his spring. The Michigan transfer has two years of eligibility left. He is also being asked to help out a lot at LB right now as OU waits for the judge to rule on the Heinecke injunction. All of the reps Sullivan and Nesta have been getting have been big for them, but Venables spoke exclusively about Sullivan during his time with the media on Tuesday night.
“He’s done a a really good job. All the new guys, but Cole’s done a really good job of being really consistent about putting in the extra time to learn the new language and how it applies to him. What we’re trying to accomplish with different schemes. What you can and can’t do with both the run and the pass. So he’s done a really good job,” BV said of Sullivan. “Wherever we finish this spring, my experience has been all the new guys, they’ll take another huge leap if we’re doing it right. Between now and the start of the summer, and then again through the summer with the player workouts and some of the stuff that we’re able to do OTA-wise in the summer and then another jump again in fall camp. So a lot of growing opportunities for him, but you can see some of his experience has shown up. Man, he’s big, strong and athletic. He’ll strike you.”
As you could imagine, Kip Lewis has been one of the more loud and boisterous leaders on the defensive side of the ball. He’s also continued to mold and transform his body after struggling to add weight early in his career. Lewis is down a pound but looks even bigger in person than he did
“I don’t know that Kip ever has a bad day. Whether it’s the weight room or practice field, there isn’t a more energetic guy on the team. Always making sure everyone is ready to get after it,” source said of the experienced linebacker Kip Lewis and his enthusiasm that seems to be contagious.
With James Nesta, it really does date back to last season where we started to hear a lot of buzz with him. If he continues to grow in that buzz, I truly do feel like he will have somewhat of a Kobie McKinzie type of roll in 2026, with it increasing substantially for his junior season and beyond.
Then there is the cheetah room with Powers and Newcombe at cheetah, along with your quasi swing LB in Taylor Heim.
Powers has continued to grow into that cheetah roll adding some much-needed size. However, he covers so well in space that he will allow OU to do a lot of different things defensively.
“You really don’t have to bring in an extra DB with a guy like Reggie [Powers] out there,” source said of the former safety now cheetah/LB. “He plays really well in space and has become a really strong run fit guy [for OU]. He’s around 215 to 220lbs, so he has really put on some muscle to allow him to be more of an every down guy. He should have a good year as long as he stays healthy.”
Healthy has been the rub with Jeremiah Newcombe, but he, too, has been adding some weight and working on fitting into that nickel roll more.
“Jeremiah is smart. He plays in space really well. Had a big offseason last year where people thought he was going to really help [OU], but an injury derailed that,” source said. “He’s coming back and looking like he can be an added DB to really mix things up. Can’t have enough of those guys.”
Then there is Taylor Heim. The super, super athletic hybrid backer has really impressed so many this offseason.
“He’s a freak of an athlete that will play this year. Putting on weight to where you feel okay to play him on more downs. That has been key with him. He has developed,” source said of the former OKPreps underrated athlete. “Not many stick around get developed in today’s college football and Heim has been able to do that. He’s pushing 230lbs and if he can there or above that would be big for him, but either way he will be hard to keep off the field with how well he is picking things up and how athletic he is.”
Sooners head coach Brent Venables even went into deep detail about Heim on Tuesday evening. He spoke so highly of him and where he has continued to develop and his chances to play for OU this fall — particularly when it comes to passing downs and Heim’s knack of blitzing.
“[Taylor Heim has] played a lot of Will linebacker here this camp with some cheetah as well, but I think he recognizes the carryover between those two outside linebacker positions, and there’s a lot of mirrored concepts that are similar in those positions,” Venables said of Heim and his ability to play inside and in space at linebacker and cheetah. “You played a little more space at the cheetah, and things happen a little faster when you’re at the Will linebacker, but he’s really taken a lot of good steps along the way. And a big, long, athletic-bodied guy that, one of our best pressure guys, really has got a knack for a rush in the passer and doing the things that we like to do, and disrupting the run in the pass game. He’s done a really good job of taking that part of his game to another level, too.”
Overall, the LB room is somewhat deep with a lot of learning that still needs to come about, but if they can get Owen Heinecke and have a core of him, Lewis, Sullivan, Nesta and Heim on the inside. Plus, have Powers, Newcombe and Heim at cheetah, you really do have some leeway to work with and a lot of talent at your disposal if you Coach Dreiling and Coach Goodwin.
SECONDARY INTEL: Quick notes on cornerbacks and safeties
Sooners safety Michael Boganowski goes through drills with safety coach Brandon Hall during OU spring practice. Credit: Brandon Drumm – OUInsider.com
I am just going to drop some quick notes on the secondary. Two positions that most fans and insiders feel the most confident about — outside of the defensive ends — is the two secondary spots. That’s no surprise with the talent OU has starting position and as backups — particularly at corner.
Oklahoma is slated to have two former Freshmen All-American back in junior Eli Bowen and sophomore Courtland Guillory. We will discuss their upside and expectations below, but as you can imagine, they are two of the best in not just the SEC, but in all of college football. Senior CB Jacobe Johnson is another we will dive deep into and walk through his offseason and overall improvements, expectations and potential draft stock, along with some youth and transfers that OU has added and been high on this spring — with some needing to make a jump to be more in the rotation.
Then, we dive into the safeties. Not as much depth as years past with the loss of Jayden Hardy to transfer portal and Robert Spears-Jennings off to the league. That said, safety coach Brandon Hall has continued to recruit at a very high level and evaluate players that seemingly perfect fits for what OU asks of the safeties. That, and the fact some feel this is the (arguably) the best safety duo OU has had under Coach Hall (on paper), has people still really high on the room. And that goes with Omarion Robinson having to take a big jump and the two freshmen of Markel Ford and Niko Jandreau, likely, being called upon to play some in 2026.
Cornerbacks:
Oklahoma CB Eli Bowen dashes to the end zone on an interception return against Alabama (photo: Parker Thune)
*** Freshman All-American Courtland Guillory : The sophomore DB has only gotten better this offseason. With newly hired corners coach Lamar Morgan adding a different way to look at things through his coaching and technical teachings, Guillory has become an even better player through his footwork. His next step is to be a bigger ballhawk, per sources. Something Guillory has gotten better at, but still working to improve even more on as spring ball moves along.
Guillory has had several big team portions and one-on-one’s, per sources. Even getting after Mateer and the QBs this past week, OUInisider is told. There is a lot of sources that seem to think he could be “special” and “one of the better ones to come through Norman” if he keeps at this trajectory.
*** Junior CB Eli Bowen: Speaking of ballhawks. With Bowen healthy this offseason, there is some talk that the CB duo could be one of the more formidable ones not just in the SEC, but in all of CFB. Bowen has continued to be a leader at the CB spot, but sources say it’s his football IQ that takes him to another level.
“Eli Bowen is a football player. His size isn’t an issue because he is always where he is supposed to be and playing the ball the way it’s supposed to be played. It’s why the big plays happen with him more than most,” source said of the former freshman All-American and 2025 third-team All-SEC CB.
Needless to say, everyone expects Guillory and Bowen to be quite the one-two punch at CB in 2025.
Senior CB Jacobe Johnson: Much like Taylor Heim at LB, Johnson is another instate star that has allowed himself time to develop, as well as being one of the top overall athletes on the team. JJ has gotten more and more rotational work and his snap count is expected to really increase in 2026. That is as long as he keeps making plays this spring and working to up his football IQ like he has the last few offseasons.
“Jacobe puts in the work. He is a stay after practice guy. He is a want to learn guy. You have that with his freakish athleticism and he has a chance to be playing on Sunday’s,” a source said of Johnson. “He has improved so much and last year he played the last five or six weeks with a physicality that was missing a bit with him early on. Was always the question. How physical will Johnson be? He answered that last season and if he starts the 2026 season like he ended 2025, he will not only be getting more snaps, but very strong looks for the next level. He has all the tools do that, too.”
Johnson has had a strong spring and really had some within the program talking about him in the same sentence as the top two corners. That is a good thing, obviously.
*** The younger CBs like Trystan Haynes, Derrick Johnson and others have some work to do. They will be in that development line as OU has some experienced CBs in 2026. That said, Johnson has made a big early impression, so I wouldn’t be overly shocked to see him play a bit of rotational CB in 2026. Same for Haynes, with the former Carl Albert two-way star athlete developing into a long, big and rangy CB that OU covets to have in the SEC. Haynes continues to make strides, but both youngsters still have some developing to do to reach the level of the top three or four corners.
Similarly, the two transfers that should help at corner are Dakoda Fields and Prince Ijioma. The two have experience and should help with that fourth and fifth CB spots. Both are working to pickup Venables’ complex defensive scheme. Sometimes that takes a bit longer, but with it being spring Lamar Morgan and his CB staff are using this time to help them make those bumpy, difficult mistakes to be ready come spring.
Overall, the cornerback room should be a strength as long as OU remains healthy and has at least two of the top three guys available each and every Saturday. Again, this where middle depth will play a big role as OU has some of that corner.
SAFETY:
Sooners safety Peyton Bowen preparing to go through indy drills during OU spring practice 2026. Credit: Brandon Drumm- OUInsider.com
Junior safety Michael Boganowski: The junior headhunting safety has really grown over the last few seasons under safety coach Brandon Hall. Boganowski was a linebacker in high school and from what sources told OUInsider, he struggled to even backpedal when he first arrived in Norman. Now, the junior safety is viewed as one that could end up being one of the better to have played at OU since Venables and company came back to Norman in 2022. Obviously, the safety has to continue to make plays on the field, but this will be the first season he will be the main guy to go along with Peyton Bowen (more on him below).
“Boganowski will take your head off. He will make plays on the ball and has continued to get a knack for playing safety over the last few seasons,” well-connected source said of the junior safety and first-year starter. “He’s come such a long way and continues to grow. He might have made the biggest jump [OU] has seen in a player in some time. Why the expectations are high on him and Peyton [Bowen].”
To add to what that source said above, there are some that feel this safety duo could end up being the best this staff has had. That’s saying something with the likes of Billy Bowman and RSJ manning the backend of the defense, along with RSJ and Peyton Bowen last year.
Either way, Boganowski has had a strong spring so far, though he’s still learning and has had some bumps in the road too.
“He got off to a slower start the first scrimmage, but really turned it on as the scrimmage progressed. He made some plays and made a strong play on a TE at one point too,” source said.
Senior Peyton Bowen: There isn’t much to add with the do-it-all safety in Peyton Bowen. He has grown as a player and as long as he remains healthy there is a chance he has a career year for the Sooners.
“He’s going to make plays, but the biggest deal for him is that he has really matured as a leader. He owns the fact that he is the guy in the secondary and the one they all look toward,” source said of PB being the vet and understanding the importance of that. “This is his last year [at OU], so the reality is setting in and he taking advantage of the urgency he in front of him right now.”
That urgency of uber-talented safety Peyton Bowen, along with the big upside of Michael Boganowski has everyone with high hopes when it comes to safety play in 2026.
Safety Omarion Robinson: Finally, the third safety that everyone talks about right now is the guy they call Man-Man. He has been very impressive this spring and grown up quite a bit from last season, per multiple sources.
“He’s a reps a guy. He’s a guy that if you give reps and show him what he did wrong, it won’t happen again,” source said of Robinson’s growth. “This spring has seen more reps and he has taken to that a lot. He’s going to play quite a bit [for OU], so this spring was always going to be big for him.”
The former Rivals100 safety has to continue to grow for OU have the depth they need moving forward at safety.
*** Just a quick note on freshman Niko Jandreau: He has impressed “a lot” this spring. There are some that feel he can play and be more than just a rotational piece by the time next season rolls around. He’s flashed that much at times. That said, the same source(s) also make note that he is just scratching the surface and that when fellow freshman Markel Ford gets right, there will be some competition to join Michael Boganowski in safety starting lineup.
However, as things stand right now, they are really liking how fast Jandreau is picking things up and correcting mistakes a brisk pace.
*** That’s it for the defensive notes. Hope you all enjoy them. Much more to come on the team front and recruiting front. More notes on Thursday with recruiting, basketball transfer portal and spring recruiting intel. Stay tuned to OUInsider VIP for all your Sooners news and notes on Lindsey Street VIP Board.
