Sooners Preview 2021 at Big 12 Media Days

ARLINGTON, Texas — Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley, tight end/H-back Jeremiah Hall and outside linebacker Nik Bonitto represented the Sooners on Wednesday to preview the 2021 season at Big 12 Media Day at AT&T Stadium.

Riley, Hall and Bonitto met with the media in various capacities for six hours Wednesday, including a live appearance on ESPNU.

COACH RILEY PRESS CONFERENCE

Watch head coach Lincoln Riley's archived press conference via Big 12 Now on ESPN+, and view archived video of OU's segment on ESPNU.

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NOTEBOOK

Defense Now Viewed as a Strength

The Oklahoma defense was a major topic on Wednesday, but the tone was different than perhaps in some previous years. Conversation about the "D" at Big 12 Media Day centered on the whether the unit could be OU's strength this season and possibly the most talented of head coach Lincoln Riley's tenure.

Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto noted that the players are embracing the expectations, but not quite comfortable with only showing improvement over the last two seasons.

"Defensively, we asked for these expectations," Bonitto said. "Two years ago, when Coach (Alex) Grinch came in here, we knew this was where we wanted to be. Obviously, we're not where we want to be right now, but we've come a long way and I feel like we have to keep building on that. We're definitely hungry this year, we're not satisfied at all. We know there's still a chip on our shoulder and we know we still have to change that narrative. We still have a long way to go defensively, and we have to keep pushing for it."

Riley spoke about the progression of the defense under third-year coordinator Grinch, adding that the keys to improvement the last two seasons have been recent recruiting and leadership on that side of the ball.

"We were much improved in year one, we took a big step in year two, and our plan is to take another big step here," Riley said. "A lot of things go into that. Players now have been in that system for a couple of years, some really strong leaders. I think because of our success as a team, and especially our success defensively over the last few years, we've been able to recruit at a higher and higher level, especially on the defensive side of the ball. And we look different just even walking into a team meeting room on that side of the ball than we did a few years ago. It just looks different in a positive way."

Growth Among OU's Media Day Contingent

OU's player representatives at Big 12 Media Day on Wednesday provided an excellent example of how perseverance and improvement throughout a career can be rewarded.

Bonitto, a redshirt junior, had a breakout 2020 season in which he compiled 8.0 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 10 QB hurries. He came on at the end of the 2019 season, starting eight of the final 14 contests after playing in just three games during his true freshman season and ultimately redshirting.

"There were some times when you looked at him and said, man is he going to make it or not? I don't know," Riley said of Bonitto. "He had to really turn it around, and I give the kid a lot of credit. In every part of his life, he's really taken a dramatic shift. He wasn't a bad kid, but he had a real tough time with the transition. Honestly, his turnaround has been fantastic.

"It's a great story to see where he was. I think it's great for a lot of young athletes – they ought to read his story. Everybody thinks, 'Well I was highly recruited, I'm going to roll into OU and it's just going to happen.' Nik was extremely highly recruited, came out of one of the best high schools in the country, was extremely successful coming in, and man it was rough. A lot of dudes would've quit, a lot of dudes would've transferred or gone and done something else. He's reaping the rewards right now. It's really cool. Three years ago, to think if we would bring Nik Bonitto to Big 12 Media Day, at that point I would've said no way would it be that much of a jump. He deserves all the credit in the world."

Hall redshirted his first season and only received six touches while playing in all 14 games as a redshirt freshman but has become a key cog in the offense over the last two years. He has compiled 387 yards and scored eight touchdowns on 34 receptions in his last two seasons and started 10 of OU's 11 contests last year.

"He's definitely one of the guys, one of our bell cows, a guy who we'll lean on certainly offensively but more importantly as an entire team," Riley said of Hall. "He's been through the fire and is an absolute team-first guy. Really proud of his progression as a player and what he's meant to us. We'll need his best. The best teams, you look at it, your seniors, your veterans, always play the very best ball of their career, and he's one of the guys we'll certainly be counting on in a lot of different ways to get that done."

Good to Be Back

For the first time in two years, Big 12 Football Media Days are being held in person at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In fact, no conference media day was held at all prior to the 2020 season, due to the pandemic and uncertainty surrounding the start of play.

This week's Big 12 Media Days represent somewhat of a return to normalcy, with players, coaches, school and conference representatives and media from around the league in attendance and interacting, albeit with some protocols in place to protect the health and safety of all involved.

All-in-all, the event – designed to build excitement for the upcoming season – served as a preview of what is scheduled to be a return to full-capacity stadiums this fall. Players and coaches around the country are looking forward to playing in front packed houses again.

"I'm extremely excited to have any stadium, specifically ours, at 100% capacity because our fans show up and show out every single game," Hall said. "Shoutout to our fans, I love you guys. But I'm so excited for full-capacity stadiums."

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Head Coach Lincoln Riley

On advancing in the College Football Playoff:

"This is Oklahoma. Every year is the year to do that. It takes a lot to get it done. I think for us and our team right now, we have a genuine excitement and confidence about the people in the room right now. We have enough ability in the room that we have people that are invested in what we can be as a team. Then, for us, our focus zeroes back in on getting to the best version of ourselves. If we do that, then things will happen that are supposed to happen. That's been our focus from day one from when we flipped over (to 2021) after beating Florida in this building. That's been our focus. I think the guys are excited about the team and the guys we have coming back and the guys we have coming in. The whole mix of it. The good thing is we have the guys that know what all it takes to get it done and be a factor at the end of the season. We have a team that believes in itself but also knows the long and tough road ahead."

On winning the conference six straight seasons:

"We have a lot of respect for this league. We have a lot of respect for what it takes to win this league … Everybody's a good coach and everybody has good players. Each year is so different and each game is so different. We're excited about the success we've had but we know that's not going to make a difference in this coming year. We have to go do it again."

On the defensive expectations:

"I'm excited. They showed a lot of things in the spring in terms of taking some big steps. I think there's some genuine excitement around how we've played there the past few years and the job Coach Grinch and the staff has done. But I think also I'm excited because I don't feel a sense of satisfaction. I think we can play a lot better defensively. Our players and staff believe that as well and I've seen the leadership and work ethic to think we have that opportunity."

On what growth he wants to see from quarterback Spencer Rattler:

"Consistency, number one. He had some great moments and got stronger as the year went on last season, but I think any time for a young quarterback you're looking for guys that can do it day-in and day-out and game-in and game-out. Continuing to master our offense and the way we want to attack people. We've really pushed him to improve physically. We think he's a talented kid but he was still a young guy out there playing last year. I think he's made a lot of improvements there that will help him break tackles, help him get in and out of the pocket, move around better and be more durable.

TE/H-Back Jeremiah Hall

On the H-back group:

"The numbers show. They're very important. The guys in that room, we as a group take pride in the position that we play. It's apparent that we're making an impact and everybody knows who we are on the field. I've had some fun playing this H-back role and I know the guys back home in Norman are looking forward to this coming year."

On the expectations surrounding Rattler:

"Pretty much like everybody else, expecting him to take that next step. Whether it be him or me. We expect to grow in our game, pretty much like any player. Spencer has done a great job in the offseason, in the weight room, the leadership role, just taking control of this offense. We expect good things out of him."

OLB Nik Bonitto

On what fans will see from the team this season:

"You're going to see a hungry team and a bunch of dudes who are ready to put it on the line for each other. Just more of that hungry mentality and going into every game like it's your last."

On the expectations:

"We welcome the expectations. We know that at a place like Oklahoma, we're always going to have those types of expectations. It's really good to have, but at the end of the day we still have to go out and do it. I feel like it starts on day one, just taking it day by day and making sure that we're doing all the right thing to win ballgames around here. I feel like it definitely starts right now, and we just have to take it day by day."

On what the defense has to do to build off last season's performance:

"It's mostly just playing with confidence, playing hard and playing with all the things Coach Grinch asks us to do for 60 minutes, or maybe even longer. I feel like a really important key for us is, on defense, we love to play a lot of guys. We just have to make sure we bring it and these younger guys that come in and play, there's no drop off, making sure that everybody is really comfortable with playing and they're going to play to the standards of this defense."

On how to take the next step as a defense:

"Just continuing to go off of what Coach Grinch talks about – just playing hard, running to the ball, creating turnovers – it hasn't failed us yet. When we're done these things, we've seen success in this defense. When we haven't done those things, we haven't had success. So continuing to do what Coach Grinch preaches on is a big part of taking that next step and trying to be one of the best defenses in the country."