Oklahoma spring preview: Linebacker
NOTE: Oklahoma’s spring practice begins March 22. This series previews Oklahoma’s spring position by position.
With no spring practice last year, Oklahoma’s linebackers didn’t progress like they hoped — and they still played at an extremely high level in 2020.
Now imagine how good DaShaun White, Brian Asamoah, Nik Bonitto, David Ugwoegbu and the rest can be in 2021 with a full 15 practices to get better.
“Several guys that played this last year for us,” said defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, “really did so without a true offseason at Oklahoma.”
Spring practice at OU begins March 22, and while everyone is eager to use this period to get better, the Sooner linebackers are eager to spend a month sharpening their skills and working on their craft because for the most part, their progress began in 2020.
White was a first-year starter in 2019, but last spring, instead of practicing, he could only study what how he played the year before — and any feedback came via video from linebackers coach Brian Odom, rather than in person. Much of any offseason improvement White made in his second season as the Sooners’ starting middle linebacker came through his own individual efforts.
Likewise with Asamoah, OU’s wildly athletic weakside linebacker who redshirted in 2018, was a backup in 2019 and won the job in the 2020 preseason, then proceeded to lead the Sooners with 66 total tackles. Now that Asamoah knows what he’s doing as a starter, he’ll be that much better with a cerebral spring practice.
Ugwoegbu, who worked his way into the starting lineup three times last season after making just one start as a true freshman in 2019, showed the kind of playmaking ability at middle linebacker that has coaches scrambling to find ways to get him on the field more often. Imagine what he’ll learn this spring.
And Bonitto, who became a starter in 2019 and then became a star under Jamar Cain in 2020 as he set the edge for the Sooners and rushed the passer at an All-American level, is poised for an even better season in 2021 — especially after he gets in a full spring practice.
“Played at an elite level,” Grinch said in February.
That’s a lot of experience coming back — this time on the heels of a real offseason — with 170 total tackles last year, 23.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 quarterback sacks and 22 QB hurries.
Even so, this spring will be big for the rest of the linebacker corps, several of whom seem on the verge of a breakout themselves.
Brynden Walker and Shane Whitter both had moments where they stood out as true freshmen in 2020, while also looking versatile enough to contribute at multiple positions. Bryan Mead is expected back for his second senior season. And sixth-year senior Caleb Kelly might be limited this spring as he continues his road back from another knee injury, but the former 5-star recruit should be full speed come fall.
It’s an important spring for true freshman Clayton Smith, too, who at 6-4 and 220 pounds could back up Bonitto as the rush linebacker but is athletic enough, savvy enough and versatile enough to help out at the other spots if needed.
“He’s here right now,” Grinch said in February. “He competes.”
Freshman Danny Stutsman will arrive over the summer and won’t get the benefit of spring practice until next year.
“You never stop benefiting from an offseason, but specifically those younger guys,” Grinch said. “There’s a transition when you come to college. Playing at a level of Big 12 football, Power Five football like an Oklahoma, a transition takes place. You’re never absent a transition.”
