2019 Position Preview: Defensive Line

The down linemen provide the first line of impact for a defense and have the ability to disrupt the offense's entire game plan, and new OU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch can turn to a slew of returners this year to help the Sooners in that regard.?

Defensive line coach Calvin Thibodeaux only lost one player who saw significant time last season in end Amani Bledsoe (started all 14 games, made 37 tackles). Current seniors Neville Gallimore and Kenneth Mann and sophomore Ronnie Perkins combined for 33 starts and are expected to again play important roles in 2019. Seven other players saw the field last season and will vie for more time going forward, including redshirt freshman and former five-star prospect Jalen Redmond. Thibodeaux also welcomes several promising newcomers, including junior college transfer LaRon Stokes and four-star freshmen Marcus Hicks, Kori Roberson and Marcus Stripling.?

OU head coach Lincoln Riley knows first-hand how much a strong defensive front can impact the way an offense prepares and runs its plays.?

“One great defensive lineman can change the game like no other,” Riley said. “I have said it before, but even in the Alabama game last year, Quinnen Williams, although he only ended up having like two tackles and no stat line at all, he completely changed the game. He made things a lot more difficult and things that we had to do around him. Great defensive linemen are hard to come by and we worked hard to recruit and develop those guys. We also have some older guys who are ready to step in and be great players and some new and exciting guys who are definitely in that category.”

Lettermen Returning

OU's most experienced returning group.

Dillon Faamatau (R-Sr.) ? Played in all 14 games last year and made two starts ... logged 15 tackles.
Neville Gallimore (R-Sr.) ? Turned in most productive season as a Sooner last year with career highs of 50 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles in 13 games (all starts) ... an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection.
Kenneth Mann (R-Sr.) ? A 2018 team captain and honorable mention All-Big 12 pick ... started all 13 of his games and made a career-high 50 tackles ... also recorded an interception and forced a fumble.
Marquise Overton (R-Sr.) ? Started nine of 14 games in 2017 (43 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss) before serving in a reserve role in 11 outings last season (10 tackles).
Troy James (R-So.) ? Appeared in nine games last season (mostly on special teams) ... also served as a blocking back on occasion.
Isaiah Thomas (R-So.) ? Saw action in nine games in 2018 ... made four tackles and registered a pass breakup.
Ronnie Perkins (So.) ? Named a 2018 freshman All-American by ESPN ... played in all 14 games and made seven starts ... started seven of last eight contests ... totaled 37 tackles ... led team with 5.0 sacks and ranked third with 8.0 tackles for loss and with four quarterback hurries.

Gallimore Says

"(The defensive mindset) gives me an opportunity to be effective. I can make more plays for my team. Coach Grinch has instilled the mindset of max effort and make as many plays as possible. We get to play fast, make plays, celebrate with your brothers. That's what it's all about. (Just focused on) being more consistent and making sure I can play faster and making sure my conditioning is right. Losing weight has helped with that, so now that I have that in a game it's just about effort. Me dropping weight and being in better shape is definitely going to help me be more consistent, make more plays on the field."

Perkins Says

"Coach (Alex) Grinch just harps on toughness. He's always telling we have to be tough and nobody is going to make excuses for us. No matter what, we have to show up, do our thing and play. I feel like that's the biggest difference."

Non-Lettermen Returning

Zacchaeus McKinney (R-So.) ? Redshirted in 2017 and did not play in 2018 ... a consensus three-star recruit out of high school.
Caden Blanchard (R-Fr.) ? Walk-on who redshirted in 2018 ... came to OU from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Jordan Kelley (R-Fr.) ? Played in two games last year and registered a pair of tackles ... missed most of spring practice due to injury ... a four-star recruit (No. 6 player in Oklahoma) by 247Sports out of high school.

Newcomers

LaRon Stokes

LaRon Stokes (Jr.) ? Early enrollee ... three-star junior college recruit by 247Sports ... touted as the No. 3 JUCO defensive end by 247Sports and No. 1 JUCO prospect in the state of Oklahoma.
Marcus Hicks (Fr.) ? Four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals, and a three-star prospect by 247Sports ... touted as the No. 245 overall prospect by Rivals and No. 269 by ESPN.
Reed Lindsey (Fr.) ? A true freshman walk-on from Clinton, Okla.
Kori Roberson (Fr.) ? Four-star recruit by ESPN and a three-star prospect by 247Sports and Rivals ... rated as the No. 33 strongside defensive end by 247Sports, No. 43 by ESPN and No. 44 by Rivals.
Marcus Stripling (Fr.) ? Four-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals ... ranked as country's No. 174 overall prospect and No. 17 strongside defensive end by Rivals.

Notes

The three returning starters ? Gallimore (24 starts), Mann (13) and Perkins (seven) ? have combined for 44 career starts, including a combined 33 in 2018.
The Sooners return 78.6 percent (9.0) of their sacks from last season and 76.6 percent (21.0) of their tackles for loss.
Thibodeaux started at OU in 2016 as its defensive line coach, then presided over the defensive ends in 2017 and at the start of 2018. Midway through last year he took over the entire line again and is charged with that responsibility in 2019.

Lettermen Returning

Gallimore Says

Perkins Says

Non-Lettermen Returning

Newcomers

Notes

Players Mentioned

Caden Blanchard

Amani Bledsoe

Dillon Faamatau

Neville Gallimore

Marcus Hicks

Troy James

Jordan Kelley

Reed Lindsey

Kenneth Mann

Zacchaeus McKinney

Marquise Overton

Ronnie Perkins

Jalen Redmond

Kori Roberson Jr.

LaRon Stokes

Marcus Stripling

Isaiah Thomas

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