Position Preview: Linebackers

NORMAN – The linebacking unit will be the one with the most new faces for Oklahoma in 2016, as the Sooners must replace three outstanding starters.

OU's elite outside pass-rushing duo of Eric Striker and Devante Bond are now with the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively. Inside linebacker and OU's leading tackler in 2015, Dominique Alexander also moved to the NFL this season, playing for the Cleveland Browns.

Senior Jordan Evans, the lone returning starter, will anchor the linebackers this season. The Norman, Okla., native recorded the second-most takedowns for Mike Stoops' defenses in 2014 and 2015, and earned All-Big 12 Second Team Honors last season. The veteran has ideal size and speed for an inside linebacker and could be considered the favorite to lead the team in tackles in 2016.

Redshirt sophomore Tay Evans may occupy the other vacancy on the inside left by Alexander. The older brother of redshirt freshman offensive tackle Bobby Evans, Tay Evans saw action in 10 games last year in a limited role. He will see competition for the spot from redshirt sophomore Curtis Bolton, a three-star recruit out of Murrieta, Calif., who played in four games last year, all on special teams. Walk-on redshirt junior Ruben Hunter and junior college transfer Emmanuel Beal could also be factors for the job.

Oklahoma has a bullpen full of elite talent ready to fill in at the outside linebacker positions, a role that has been highly productive under Stoops. Last year, Striker and Bond combined for 26 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks.

Redshirt junior Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is a favorite to land one of the outside spots. At 6-2 and 245 pounds, Okoronkwo boasts a rare combination of strength and speed that makes him an excellent edge rusher. He already has 4.0 career sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss, and those numbers should go up as he seeks a full-time role. Junior Kapri Doucet could be his running mate this year. Doucet transferred to Oklahoma from Lackawanna College and, at 6-2, 225 pounds, has flashed his play-making ability consistently throughout fall camp.

Oklahoma has a wealth of young talent eager to prove itself at the linebacker positions. Five-star freshman Caleb Kelly arrives in Norman from Fresno, Calif., rated as the No. 14 overall prospect in the nation by Rivals and the No. 3 outside linebacker. In-state product Jon-Michael Terry earned a four-star ranking after starring at outside backer at Victory Christian School in Tulsa. The Sooners also have a pair of talented redshirt freshmen in Arthur McGinnis and Ricky DeBerry. McGinnis was a four-star recruit out of high school and is an imposing figure in the interior at 6-1, 240 pounds. DeBerry was rated as a five-star prospect by Scout and a four-star by ESPN and Rivals. He was considered one of the nation's top prospects at outside linebacker in 2015.

Players Mentioned

Dominique Alexander

Emmanuel Beal

Emmanuel Beal

Curtis Bolton

Devante Bond

Ricky DeBerry

Kapri Doucet

Bobby Evans

Jordan Evans

Tay Evans

Ruben Hunter

Ruben Hunter

Caleb Kelly

Arthur McGinnis

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo

Eric Striker

Jon-Michael Terry

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University of Oklahoma Athletics