Defenders will be auditioning at multiple positions for OU this spring.

Spring football is in full swing for the Oklahoma Sooners, and earlier this week, we took a stab at projecting OU’s offensive depth chart. Now we’ll turn to the defense, where new head coach Brent Venables and his coaching staff may find more talent – and more questions – than on the other side of the ball.

OU also released a roster Tuesday, which may offer some clarity about positions on D. While Venables ostensibly operates out of a 4-3 base scheme, his fondness for hybrid players can lead to confusion when describing some positions. Notably, the SAM linebacker functions in many ways like a third safety or nickel, rather than a traditional LB. (In other words, there’s a lot of guessing below about who is playing where.)

Here’s our projection for where things stand on defense as of now.

2022 Oklahoma Sooners Depth Chart Projection – Defense (Spring)

Nose tackle

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Jeffrey Johnson, Sr.
Isaiah Coe, Sr.
Josh Ellison, Sr.
Jordan Kelley, R-Sr.

Johnson didn’t transfer from Tulane to OU to ride the bench, nor did Venables give him a scholarship for that purpose. He therefore moves to the top of the heap at nose tackle.

The best way to describe this position is “solid.” It feels as though defensive line coach can cycle through multiple players without see much of a drop off. Keep an eye on Ellison.

Defensive tackle

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Jalen Redmond, R-Jr.
Kori Roberson, R-Jr.
Kelvin Gilliam, R-Fr.

Redmond has a lock on the three-tech DT spot. The story here is Gilliam, who is weighing in at 285 pounds. Packing on that extra 30 lbs. means he will have the size to compete for a rotation spot.

Strong defensive end

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Reggie Grimes, Jr.
Ethan Downs, So.
Jonah Laulu, R-Sr.
Brynden Walker, Jr.
Noah Arinze, R-So.

The time for Grimes to make good on his potential has come. Downs, who enjoyed a solid freshman season, is nipping at his heels. After transferring in from Hawaii, Laulu should fortify the depth on the strong side and potentially force the holdovers in front of him to up their game.

Weak defensive end

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Marcus Stripling, Sr.
Clayton Smith, R-Fr.
Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge, R-Fr.

This has the makings of a tight competition that lasts the entire offseason. Even though Stripling occupies the top line for now, the hope here is that Smith makes a leap after a freshman season in which the blue-chip recruit barely saw the field. The same goes for NRK.

SAM linebacker

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Shane Whitter, Jr.
Jaren Kanak, Fr.

Here’s where the guessing starts. Frankly, there aren’t many obvious candidates at this position currently on the roster.

Relative to the players who played SAM LB for Venables at Clemson, Kanak seems to fit the profile. Is he ready for that role as a true freshman? Whitter’s maturity may give him the edge, assuming he checks the boxes from a physical standpoint.

MIKE linebacker

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Danny Stutsman, So.
David Ugwoegbu, Sr.
Joseph Wete, R-Jr.
Kobie McKenzie, Fr.

The MIKE LB will see more action inside the run box than the SAM and WILL LBs, so the Sooners will need a more physical presence between the tackles. Time for Stutsman to take over after playing a reserve role in 2021. Expect the other two holdovers from last season to become the subjects of transfer speculation.

WILL linebacker

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DaShaun White, Sr.
T.D. Roof, R-Sr.
Kip Lewis, Fr.

White will be a captain this season. He could play MIKE, but putting him at WILL with Stutsman inside looks like the optimal combination.

Whitter could back up White if SAM doesn’t work for him. Likewise, Roof could slide over to SAM.

Cornerback

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Woodi Washington, R-Jr.
Joshua Eaton, Jr.
Kendall Dennis, So.

Keep in mind that Washington has played safety in a past life. He may seem like a sure thing at CB, but with the coaches adding a number of transfers, don’t dismiss a position switch out of hand. Either way, he’ll be on the field in the secondary come fall.

Cornerback

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D.J. Graham, Jr.
C.J. Coldon, Sr.
Jaden Davis, Sr.
Kani Walker, So.

The name to know here is Coldon, a Wyoming transfer who started 19 games for the Cowboys in the last two seasons. His addition may give OU some flexibility at CB if the coaches decide to experiment with Washington and Graham in other spots. (Say, nickel?) Coldon could slide in somewhere else in the secondary as well.

Unfortunately, Coldon won’t reach campus until after spring football is over.

Strong safety

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Key Lawrence, Jr.
Jordan Mukes, So.
Robert Spears-Jennings, Fr.

Lawrence played well last year at both corner and safety. OU could probably use his physicality more at safety, so it seems like a good bet at this point.

Mukes is a sleeper – he’s an outstanding athlete.

Free safety

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Billy Bowman, So.
Justin Broiles, R-Sr.
Bryson Washington, R-So.

Will Bowman even be playing on the defensive side of the ball this season? You could make a case that depth issues at wide receiver would warrant a switch to O for such an electric athlete. He’s listed as a defensive back at the moment, though, so let’s assume he’s staying put.

Broiles filled in admirably last year and has the makings of a solid utility player as a super senior.

Nickel

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Trey Morrison, Sr.
Jayden Rowe, Fr.

After competing against Morrison at North Carolina, Venables made a point of recruiting the former Tar Heel to Norman. You can bet he will have a role somewhere in the secondary. If Venables envisions the nickel to be more of a coverage player, it makes sense for Morrison. At 189 pounds, asking him to do much in run support seems like a mistake.

Spring practices will give OU’s new coaches a better idea of who fits where on the offensive side of the ball.

The Oklahoma Sooners open spring football this week with new faces across the roster and the sidelines.

Naturally, first-year head coach Brent Venables headlines the changes. After five seasons under former coach Lincoln Riley, the players left on the roster from previous seasons will have to adjust to different ways of doing things for the new coaching regime. Meanwhile, new players will try to establish themselves in the eyes of teammates and the coaches – they include a handful of instant-impact transfers at key positions.

All those changes leave plenty of room for uncertainty, especially as the coaches implement new schemes on both sides of the ball. With that in mind, let’s try to project the state of the depth chart, beginning with the offense.

2022 Oklahoma Sooners Depth Chart Projection – Offense (Spring)

Quarterback

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Dillon Gabriel, Jr.
Nick Evers, Fr.;
Ralph Rucker, R-Fr.

No uncertainty here: Offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby has already anointed Central Florida transfer Dillon Gabriel as OU’s starting QB. Gabriel thrived in Lebby’s scheme in 2019 and 2020 before missing most of the 2021 campaign with a broken collarbone. Physically, Gabriel will be getting back up to speed in the spring; fortunately, he isn’t facing the same learning curve when it comes to learning the offense.

This is one position where Venables and the coaching staff may look to add another transfer after the spring. Rookie Nick Evers will probably be the second option behind Gabriel in the spring.

Running back

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Eric Gray, Sr.
Marcus Major, R-Jr.
Jovantae Barnes, Fr.
Gavin Sawchuck, Fr.

The running back room in Norman represents one of the bigger stories for the Sooners this season, even if it doesn’t carry the same cachet as the QB position. Lebby’s offense builds on the ground attack first and foremost, which makes a strong stable of backs a must. Gray and Major seem like a solid pairing atop the rotation. Gray, however, is more of an all-purpose RB, and Major has yet to prove himself as a feature back.

As an early enrollee, Barnes will have a chance during spring practice to make a case to see the field right away. Expect the Las Vegas native to make the most of the opportunity.

Tight end

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Brayden Willis, Sr.
Daniel Parker, Sr.
Kaden Helms, Fr.

Willis said recently he intended to declare for the NFL draft before OU’s coaching change. Needless to say, the buy-in from the veteran feels high, and he has generated some buzz during winter workouts. For his part, Parker didn’t transfer to OU to sit the bench. Lebby may play a significant amount of 12 personnel this season to take advantage of the duo’s physicality in the running game.

Wide receiver

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Theo Wease, R-Jr.; Marvin Mims, Jr.; D. Stoops, R-Sr.
Jalil Farooq, So.; Cody Jackson, So.; Trevon West, Jr.
Brian Darby, Jr.; Jayden Gibson, Fr.; Nic Anderson, Fr.

If we’re talking about proven commodities, Wease, Mims and Stoops have the best bodies of work among the OU receiving corps. Will that dictate how the rotation looks this fall? For now, let’s assume it carries some weight.

Farooq seems to be the most likely member of the second line to become a major contributor this season. He showed flashes of brilliance last season and reportedly turned heads during preparation for the Alamo Bowl. Jackson also showed promise before an illness derailed his season.

The Sooners may be looking for another receiver in the transfer portal come April.

Offensive line

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Right tackle: Wanya Morris, Sr.; Savion Byrd, R-Fr.
Left tackle: Anton Harrison, Jr.; Aaryn Parks, R-So.
Right guard: Chris Murray, R-Sr.; Brey Walker, R-Sr.
Left guard: McKade Mettauer, Sr.; Marcus Alexander, R-Jr.
Center: Andrew Raym, Jr.; Robert Congel, R-Sr.

Admittedly, this projection feels all kinds of shaky.

First, three players are essentially competing for the two tackle spots – Morris, Byrd and Harrison. Those of us outside the program know nothing about Byrd, although whispers behind the scenes indicate he has the highest ceiling on the roster. You could say the same for Morris, a touted 2021 transfer who rarely saw the field. Meanwhile, Harrison’s motor has left something to be desired in the last two years. Workouts with strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt should factor heavily in how this competition plays out, in other words.

Second, are any position changes coming? Raym, for example, seems miscast as a center. That doesn’t mean OL coach Bill Bedenbaugh has a better option at his disposal, but spring offers an opportunity to find out if any other linemen would work there. That might allow Raym to shift to his more natural spot at guard.

NORMAN – Oklahoma men’s basketball hosts St. Bonaventure (21-9, 12-5 A10) Sunday, March 20 at Lloyd Noble Center.