New Blood, New Battle: OU’s Defensive Line Embraces the Post-Downs Challenge
In Norman, Oklahoma, where football is both religion and ritual, change is often met with equal parts nostalgia and anticipation. The 2024 season is already shaping up to be one of the most transformative in recent memory for the Oklahoma Sooners — not just because of their seismic move to the SEC, but because of the turnover on both sides of the ball. Nowhere is this more pronounced than on the defensive line, where the absence of longtime stalwart Ethan Downs casts a long shadow. But where some see a void, others see opportunity. And as head coach Brent Venables prepares his squad for a gauntlet of SEC battles, a new generation of defensive linemen is stepping into the spotlight, ready to embrace the challenge and redefine what it means to be the anchor of Oklahoma’s front seven.
Ethan Downs wasn’t just a dependable edge rusher — he was the emotional and strategic cornerstone of Oklahoma’s defensive resurgence under Venables. From the moment he stepped onto the field in crimson and cream, Downs brought a blue-collar mentality that endeared him to teammates, coaches, and fans alike. With 8 sacks and 14 tackles for loss in his final season, Downs was more than just a stat sheet filler; he was the guy opponents game-planned around, the guy who got double-teamed, chipped, and yet still found ways to impact the game. More than that, he was a vocal presence in the locker room, a player who lived the Venables culture — toughness, accountability, effort — and led by example.
But all players, even foundational ones, move on. Downs is now chasing his NFL dreams, and with his departure, the Sooners find themselves at a crossroads. Gone is the certainty, the reliability, and the consistent presence on the edge. What remains is a room full of hungry, young, and unproven talent — players who have been preparing for this moment, whether they knew it or not.
One name that instantly rises to the top of the list is Adepoju “PJ” Adebawore, a player whose upside is as enormous as his wingspan. The sophomore edge rusher was one of the most coveted recruits in the nation just two years ago, and his flashes during his freshman campaign were enough to ignite hope among Sooner Nation. He may not have filled up the stat sheet in 2023, but the raw tools — elite burst, bend, hand violence — are all there. Coaches have raved about his progress in spring camp, noting that he’s put on good weight, refined his footwork, and become more disciplined in setting the edge. The departure of Downs means that the training wheels are off. PJ is now expected to be the guy, not just a rotational piece. And he seems ready for it.
Then there’s R. Mason Thomas, the redshirt freshman from Florida who arrived on campus with less fanfare than Adebawore but has steadily built a name for himself through sheer relentlessness. Thomas may not yet have the physical frame of a prototypical SEC edge rusher, but what he lacks in size, he makes up for in explosiveness. His first step is among the quickest on the team, and his ability to dip and flatten gives offensive tackles fits in practice. Coaches have hinted that he’ll be heavily involved in passing downs, and if he can improve his run discipline, he could be a breakout player.
While Adebawore and Thomas represent the youthful edge duo Oklahoma hopes will carry the torch, the reinforcements don’t end there. The Sooners have gone all-in on recruiting and developing a pipeline of elite trench talent. At the center of that effort is David Stone, the 5-star crown jewel of Oklahoma’s 2024 recruiting class. The IMG Academy product is a grown man walking into the locker room. At 6’4” and nearly 290 pounds, Stone is physically ready for SEC play today. More importantly, he brings an attitude — a fearless, take-no-prisoners demeanor — that coaches have said is already rubbing off on older players. There’s a growing belief within the building that Stone will not just play early — he’ll start. And possibly dominate.
“David’s different,” said one anonymous coach during spring evaluations. “He doesn’t just want to be good — he wants to be great. He studies, he listens, and he wants the responsibility. That’s rare in a freshman.”
Stone is already being compared, perhaps prematurely, to former Clemson standouts like Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence — players Brent Venables helped develop during his time with the Tigers. If Stone becomes anything close to that level of impact, Oklahoma’s transition to the SEC just got a whole lot smoother.
The Sooners also added some veteran leadership through the transfer portal, most notably with the addition of Tunmise Adeleye, the former 5-star recruit who spent time at Texas A&M and Michigan State. Adeleye is still chasing consistency and health, but when he’s right, he’s a disruptive force. He gives Oklahoma an experienced body who can rotate in at either defensive end or tackle depending on the package. Coaches are hoping that with a fresh start and in a more aggressive, attacking scheme, Adeleye can finally live up to the potential that made him one of the most sought-after recruits in the country just a few years ago.
At defensive tackle, Oklahoma has some experience to lean on, which is critical as the team looks to solidify its interior. Isaiah Coe returns as a steady presence — a plugger who plays with leverage and rarely gets pushed around. He’s not flashy, but he does the dirty work, eating up double teams and allowing linebackers to flow freely. Next to him, Gracen Halton is expected to take a leap. The former 4-star from California has flashed explosiveness in spurts, and if he can harness that potential into consistent play, he could form a formidable one-two punch with Coe inside.
Venables and defensive coordinator Ted Roof are also looking at creative ways to get linebacker/edge hybrids involved. One such player is Dasan McCullough, the transfer from Indiana who played a hybrid role last year and may see more snaps at the line of scrimmage in 2024. McCullough’s length, athleticism, and versatility give the Sooners flexibility in how they deploy their front seven. In some packages, he’ll play as an overhang defender. In others, he may line up with his hand in the dirt and rush the passer. It’s all part of a broader strategy to keep opposing offenses guessing.
Venables, whose reputation as a defensive mastermind is well-earned, is installing more wrinkles in year three. The base defense is still a 4-2-5, but with more movement, simulated pressures, and post-snap shifts designed to confuse quarterbacks and offensive lines. To execute that level of complexity, players need not just talent — but intelligence and discipline. That’s been the challenge in previous seasons: getting young players to play fast without sacrificing assignment soundness. With Downs gone, the margin for error is smaller, but the upside might be greater.
The shift to the SEC raises the stakes. In the Big 12, Oklahoma could occasionally get away with speed and athleticism along the line, even if it lacked depth or sheer power. In the SEC, that won’t cut it. The offensive lines are bigger. The running backs are stronger. The quarterbacks are more poised under pressure. It’s a different animal. Venables knows this better than anyone, having spent more than a decade facing off against SEC competition during his time at Clemson. His message to the defensive line room has been consistent: physicality, execution, effort.
But beyond scheme and recruiting, there’s the emotional side of the transition. The departure of Ethan Downs isn’t just about filling a position — it’s about replacing a leader. Downs was the kind of player who set the tone in practice, the one who stayed late to work with younger guys, the one who spoke up in meetings when effort dipped. That kind of leadership doesn’t get replaced overnight. It must be cultivated.
To that end, the coaching staff is placing a premium on developing leadership within the defensive line. Players like Adebawore, Coe, and even young Stone are being challenged to find their voice. Venables has emphasized that leadership doesn’t always come from speeches — it comes from consistency, from work ethic, from accountability.
“Be the guy your teammates trust,” Venables said during spring practice. “Trust comes from doing your job every single rep. Not sometimes. Always.”
It’s a mantra that’s already begun to resonate. During one spring scrimmage, Adebawore could be seen pulling aside younger linemen, offering tips on hand placement and leverage. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t for show. But it mattered.
While much of the spotlight in Oklahoma’s offseason has centered on the quarterback battle, the evolving offensive line, and the arrival of several high-profile skill players, it’s the defensive line that may ultimately determine whether this team can compete in the SEC from day one. A strong, disruptive front can mask deficiencies in the secondary, boost third-down percentages, and create momentum-changing plays. Oklahoma doesn’t need one Ethan Downs. It needs several players stepping up to form a unit greater than the sum of its parts.
The schedule doesn’t wait. In a conference that features Georgia’s maulers, LSU’s road graders, and Alabama’s trench assassins, there is no room for developmental years. If Oklahoma is to avoid becoming another cautionary tale about life in the SEC, its defensive line must mature at warp speed.
There’s no question the talent is there. Adebawore is a future NFL draft pick if he puts it all together. Stone may be one of the most dominant freshmen in the country. Thomas, Halton, Adeleye — all have traits that scream potential. But potential doesn’t win in the SEC. Execution does. Depth does. Discipline does.
In a way, Ethan Downs’ departure may have come at the perfect time. His presence, as valuable as it was, may have delayed the inevitable youth movement. Now, without that safety net, the new generation is being thrown into the fire. And sometimes, that’s the only way to grow.
For Oklahoma’s defensive line, the message is simple but powerful: it’s your turn.
New blood. New battle. New era.
Welcome to the SEC.
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