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    Report: Oklahoma LB Danny Stutsman Will Declare for NFL Draft

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    Oklahoma Sooners
    Oklahoma Sooners

    It would seem Danny Stutsman has made his decision.

    According to a report Wednesday from SoonerScoop, citing unnamed sources, the Oklahoma has informed coach Brent Venables that he will enter the NFL Draft. 

    Underclassmen this year have until Jan. 15 to declare themselves eligible for the NFL Draft.

    In his three-year career at Oklahoma, Stutsman racked up 261 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, seven sacks, seven pass breakups, four forced fumbles and three interceptions.

    This season alone, despite a severe ankle injury that knocked him out of 1 1/2 games (OU lost both), Stutsman tallied 99 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, three sacks, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one interception that he returned for a touchdown against Tulsa. Stutsman also battled a sore shoulder all season.

    In the Sooners' two losses without Stutsman, Kansas (443) and OSU (480) accounted for more yards than any 2023 opponent other than Texas (527). 

    The Windermere, FL, product's 2023 statistics were good enough to earn him First-Team All-Big 12 honors after being snubbed from the list in 2022 following a conference-high 125 tackles.

    Stutsman led the team with 992 snaps last year, according to Pro Football Focus. He played 613 snaps this season as OU improved drastically on third downs and also developed some reliable depth behind him.

    Jaren Kanak (559 snaps) evolved into a starter during his sophomore season in 2023, while redshirt freshman Kip Lewis (327 snaps) became OU's most productive linebacker per snap and redshirt freshman Kobie McKinzie (165 snaps) grew into his role and may soon be Stutsman's full-time replacement. All three players would have to step up significantly as the Sooners transition to the SEC in 2024.

    Stutsman was named Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week this season after logging 17 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a quarterback sack, a QB hurry and a fumble recovery in a 28-11 victory over SMU. He also earned All-America accolades this week from CBS Sports.

    Stutsman came to OU as a 4-star recruit and appeared in 10 games as a true freshman. In his collegiate career, the 6-foot-4 junior played in 34 games with 24 starts.

    Another of Oklahoma's star defenders, safety Billy Bowman, also has a decision to make about coming back next year or jumping to the NFL, but said on "Sooner Sports Talk" this week he would make that decision after the Alamo Bowl against Arizona on Dec. 28 in San Antonio.

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