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University of Oklahoma Athletics
2017 Position Preview: Defensive Line
August 21, 2017 | Football
NORMAN — As Oklahoma transitions to a new 4-3 defensive scheme in 2017, the defensive line will be full of rising talent. It also has one more coach than it did last year.
After Lincoln Riley was promoted to head coach on June 7, he added mentor and former East Carolina head coach Ruffin McNeill to the defensive line room. Holding the title of assistant head coach and defensive tackles coach, McNeill will join defensive ends coach Calvin Thibodeaux, who is in his second season with the Sooners, in building the Sooners' front. Thibodeaux coached both tackles and ends last year.
“You look at all that knowledge and all that wisdom he brings to the room and to the group, it's very encouraging,” Thibodeaux said of McNeill. “We've been working side-by-side and he's been awesome. To pick his brain and get another opinion on things has been awesome.”
At tackle, OU returns redshirt senior Matt Romar, a 6-0, 295-pound wide-body who missed time last season due to injury but is seeking to finish his Sooner career in strong fashion. Romar registered 17 stops, 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in just nine games a year ago. As a redshirt sophomore two seasons ago, he started all 12 games in which he played and posted a career-high 23 tackles. Romar's leadership and productivity will be key as the Sooners look to replace tackle Jordan Wade, a 13-game starter last year as a senior.
Also competing for a starting spot at tackle are redshirt sophomores Neville Gallimore (6-2, 310) and Du'Vonta Lampkin (6-4, 335), and junior Marquise Overton (6-1, 295). Gallimore, perhaps the frontrunner among those three, started six of 13 games last season and led the unit with 40 tackles. The Ontario, Canada, native also tallied four tackles for loss, one sack and forced a fumble. Lampkin and Overton saw limited action a year ago (Overton was lost for the season due to injury in the second game), but displayed their natural talent throughout August camp.
At defensive end, the Sooners return several experienced defenders on the edge. Redshirt senior D.J. Ward (6-2, 260) drew four starts last season and delivered when his number was called to the tune of 28 tackles and one sack. Redshirt sophomore Kenneth Mann, whose 6-3, 265-pound frame will provide a physical challenge for opponent offensive lines, also seeks to garner more field time after a year of experience with eight games played. Mann can also play tackle.
“I've been pretty excited about them,” Thibodeaux said of his position group. “They've really shown some explosion on the edge, and shown the ability to win one-on-ones, which we're going to need if we're going to base out of this 4-3 front. These guys have been awesome.”
OU also has a number of options with its defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid position. Senior Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (6-1, 240) wreaked havoc in opposing backfields last season with 71 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks and seven quarterback hurries, while sophomore Mark Jackson Jr. (6-1, 235) is also expected to be a pass-rushing factor. Freshman Addison Gumbs is another hybrid who flashed promise during camp.
The Sooners added four linemen for the 2017 campaign in junior college transfer Dillon Faamatau and freshmen Troy James, Tyreece Lott and Isaiah Thomas.
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