2019 Position Preview: Linebackers

Oklahoma's 2019 linebackers group includes several key players with significant game experience, and it will seek to make a larger impact in defensive coordinator Alex Grinch's new scheme.

Curtis Bolton (9.9 tackles per game to rank third in the Big 12 and 22nd nationally) is the only OU linebacker of statistical significance lost from 2018. New inside linebackers coach Brian Odom and former defensive tackles coach Ruffin McNeill (now tutoring outside linebackers) have plenty to work with, including 2019 Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Kenneth Murray (league's leading returning tackler) and Caleb Kelly on the inside and Mark Jackson Jr. and Ryan Jones on the outside. Younger players such as Nik Bonitto, Levi Draper and DaShaun White could also push for meaningful playing time.

"We've really progressed since the spring and we're light years from where we were then," said Odom this week. "I know it's cliché, but we're nowhere near where we want to be. But this is a group that is resilient, they're willing, they don't have egos. And it's a group that I have a lot of confidence in saying that they're going to continue to improve throughout the year. The biggest thing that we want to see is great effort, playing very physical and playing our scheme. And as we move forward throughout the year, hopefully we see improvement each and every week."

Said McNeill, "The rush group has developed from spring to summer to fall camp. We still have a couple of weeks to go before our first game, but they've done a good job of improving. I feel good about our youth, I feel good about our athleticism, and we're in a good spot right now. We have a lot of days left. We need those days, but I'm proud of the way they've progressed."

Lettermen Returning

Jon-Michael Terry

Mark Jackson Jr. (Sr.) – Appeared in 10 games in 2018 and made seven starts ... made 43 tackles last year and ranked fourth on team with 7.0 tackles for loss.
Caleb Kelly (Sr.) – Missed most of spring practice due to injury ... played in 12 games in 2018 and made five starts (last five contests) ... 40 of his career-high 61 tackles came in last five outings ... made a career-high 14 tackles in win at No. 12 West Virginia (11/23) that included a strip sack that he returned for a touchdown ... has made 24 career starts.
Bryan Mead (R-Jr.) – Played in all 14 games last season and made six tackles ... saw action in 13 of 14 games in 2017 when he made seven stops.
Jon-Michael Terry (R-Jr.) – Played in 13 games in 2018 (primarily on special teams) and made five tackles ... has played in 26 career contests and has made 13 tackles.
Kenneth Murray (Jr.) – 2019 Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year ... a 2018 second-team All-Big 12 selection by league's coaches and AP ... started all 14 games and led team with 155 total tackles (most by a Sooner since 2007) ... ranked second in Big 12 and 13th in nation by averaging 11.1 tackles per game ... had nine games of double-digit stops (including a 28-tackle effort against Army [second most in school history]) ... has started each of OU's 28 games the last two seasons and has registered 20.0 tackles for loss.
Levi Draper (R-So.) – Played in all 14 games last season (primarily on special teams) ... redshirted in 2017 ... a consensus four-star recruit out of high school who was ranked No. 82 overall by Scout and No. 118 by 247Sports.
Ryan Jones (R-So.) – Saw action in 11 games in 2018 and made three starts ... logged 20 tackles on the year.
DaShaun White (So.) – Played in all 14 games in 2018 and recorded 13 tackles ... a consensus four-star recruit out of high school (ranked No. 116 overall by 247Sports) and U.S. Army All-American.

Murray Says

"It's been good, we look pretty good. Obviously, going through camp, it's been a grind. We just grind it out; every day we're trying to improve. That's the biggest thing right now is to just grind it out and improve every day and we'll get there as a group."

White Says

"The linebacker rooms are looking really strong. I've only been here for a year, but we look really strong overall. There's a lot of competition at every position and there's a lot of guys stepping up and making plays. I think that is giving us a lot of depth. Just from a fall camp standpoint for me personally, I think things are going really well. Just for the whole defense, I'm confident right now. The way we're moving and the direction we're moving in, we're doing a lot of good things."

Non-Lettermen Returning

Brian Asamoah (R-Fr.) – Redshirted in 2018 (did not play) ... a consensus three-star recruit out of high school who was rated the No. 29 outside linebacker in the country by ESPN.
Nik Bonitto (R-Fr.) – Redshirted in 2018 ... played in three games and made three tackles ... a consensus four-star recruit as a high school senior and an Under Armour All-American.
Deuce Nisbet (R-Fr.) – Redshirted in 2018 (did not play) ... came to OU from Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, Texas.
Jalen Redmond (R-Fr.) – Redshirted in 2018 ... saw action in three games last season and logged six tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss ... a five-star recruit (No. 16 overall nationally) by 247Sports out of high school.
Josh Schenck (R-Jr.) – A fourth-year Sooner from Knightdale, N.C.

Newcomers

David Ugwoegbu

Jake McCoy (Fr.) – A true freshman walk-on from Edmond North High School in Edmond, Okla.
Jonathan Perkins (Fr.) – Early enrollee ... four-star recruit by ESPN and three-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals ... rated as the No. 25 outside linebacker by ESPN.
Easton Reeves (Fr.) – A true freshman walk-on from Plano, Texas, who attended Prestonwood Christian School.
David Ugwoegbu (Fr.) – Four-star recruit by Rivals and three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN ... touted as the nation's No. 25 weakside defensive end by Rivals and No. 26 by 247Sports.
Joseph Weté (Fr.) – Consensus four-star recruit ... rated the No. 132 prospect nationally by ESPN and No. 196 by Rivals ... No. 12 weakside defensive end by Rivals.

Notes

Kenneth Murray was selected as the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year by media representatives who cover the league. He was the only Sooner defender on the conference's preseason team.
All eight returning lettermen appeared in at least 10 games each last season, six of whom earned significant action at linebacker. Four of those players combined to make 29 starts last season and have tallied 62 career starts.
Eighteen players fill the inside and outside linebacker rooms, providing substantial depth at a pair of key defensive positions. Returning players combined for 312 tackles last year, an average of more than 22 stops per game.

Lettermen Returning

Murray Says

White Says

Non-Lettermen Returning

Newcomers

Notes

Players Mentioned

Brian Asamoah

Curtis Bolton

Nik Bonitto

Levi Draper

Ryan Jones

Caleb Kelly

Jake McCoy

Bryan Mead

Kenneth Murray

Jalen Redmond

Easton Reeves

Josh Schenck

Jon-Michael Terry

David Ugwoegbu

DaShaun White

Sponsors

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