How Oklahoma's Young Linebackers Are Making Strides Under Danny Stutsman's Leadership

NORMAN — Danny Stutsman is Oklahoma’s undisputed leader at linebacker.

After playing virtually every meaningful snap for the Sooners a year ago, the junior linebacker has taken steps off the field this offseason to lead Brent Venables’ defense.

But Stutsman’s emergence alone won’t enable Venables and defensive coordinator Ted Roof to rotate bodies in to truly create depth at the heart of OU’s defense.

Sophomore Jaren Kanak needs to also show growth on the field this fall and transfer addition Konnor Near will add needed experience, but the Sooners still need underclassmen to emerge to prevent the fourth quarter exhaustion exhibited by Stutsman and David Ugwoegbu in 2022.

Kobie McKinzie and Kip Lewis, who both redshirted last year, both are entering their second year under the guidance of Venables and Roof.

The duo arrived in Norman alongside Kanak in the 2022 recruiting class, and while most of the action they saw last year was on special teams, they’ve been able to make leaps throughout the spring and summer.

“They’re in a much better place,” Venables said after Oklahoma’s practice on Monday. “.. They’ve improved tremendously as well in their confidence and their knowledge and their fundamentals and their strength and their assuredness.

“Both of them have had really good camps.”

Lewis has especially benefitted from working right under Stutsman. Serving as Stutsman’s understudy, the junior linebacker has been able to pass along plenty of lessons learned through experience down to Lewis.

“We play the same position and it’s been great to see a guy like that where his instincts are just off the chart,” Stutsman said. “He just has a nose for the football.

“I kind of see myself when I look at a guy like that. Someone I’ll always want to take under my wing and kind of be his lifeline.”

A trio of true freshman have drawn the eyes of Oklahoma defenders as well.

Phil Picciotti got his first taste of life in Norman during spring practice, and the additions of Samuel Omosigho and Lewis Carter this summer have only further excited the defensive staff.

In just one week of practice, Omosigho has already left an impression on veteran OU defensive back Woodi Washington, and Venables has been a vocal fan of Carter since he signed with the Sooners last winter.

“Every workout he's running next to me, he's getting reps next to me,” Stutsman said of Carter at Big 12 Media Day in July. “I’m teaching him as much as I can about the playbook, tips and tricks that I know can help him when he gets his opportunity."

There’s plenty of urgency to bring the young linebackers along to help the team establish legitimate depth headed into 2023.

But Stutsman is taking plenty of pride as well as he sees his younger teammates make leaps on and off the field.

“I look it at like a proud father,” Stutsman said with a smile. “Grandpa Venables gets on ‘em but I’m always there. I’ve got their back. They’ve made so much improvement, man.

“It’s a learning curve going to Coach Venables and the way he teaches a young player that’s in the program, but they’ve been handling it so well. The vast improvement I’ve seen since Day 1, it’s great.”

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