Although the Sooners did not land the nation's top-ranked defensive lineman Williams Nwareni, Oklahoma can still assemble one of their best defensive line classes in school history (modern recruiting era). This has been noted a lot, so let's break it down by each class over the last 20 years to see how the '24 class might compare.
Currently, the Sooners have two defensive linemen committed: three-star nose tackle Jayden Jackson from IMG Academy and three-star edge Wyatt Gilmore from Rogers, Minnesota. Oklahoma is trending to add three more defensive linemen in the '24 class: five-star defensive lineman David Stone Jr. from IMG Academy, four-star defensive lineman Nigel Smith from Melissa, Texas, and four-star edge Danny Okoye from Tulsa NOAH. The five defensive linemen would give the Sooners a 112.32 ranking in the 247 Sports Composite Class Calculator.
The '04 class:
Remi Ayodele was a four-star defensive tackle in 2004. At OU, he played in 12 games his senior season, recording 11 tackles, four TFLs, and one sack. He went undrafted but played in the
NFL from 2007 to 2011 for the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, and Minnesota Vikings. Alan Davis was a four-star weak-side defensive end in 2004. Davis recorded 41 tackles, 20 solo, eight TFLs, and six sacks at OU from 2005-2008. Corey Bennett was a three-star defensive tackle in 2004. Bennett recorded 70 tackles, 31 solo tackles, and five sacks from 2005-2008.
The '05 class:
The Sooners' '05 defensive line class is the second highest in program history in the modern recruiting era. Headlined by five-star defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger, the nation's top-ranked defensive tackle and seventh-ranked overall prospect. Over his four-year career at OU, Granger recorded 78 tackles, 29 solo, 15 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks. C.J. Ah You recorded 86 tackles, 53 solo, 18.5 TFLs, and 10.5 sacks at OU. C.J. Ah You was drafted in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills and played for the St. Louis Rams for three seasons.
The '06 class:
The Sooners' '06 defensive line class can be regarded as one of the best in school history, as five-star defensive tackle Gerald McCoy headlines it. McCoy is the 12th highest-ranked recruit in program history and one of the best defensive linemen to ever play for the Sooners. Throughout his three seasons at Oklahoma, he made 83 tackles, 51 solo, 33 TFLs, and 14.5 sacks on his way to becoming the third overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. McCoy, a 2009 All-American, had a successful NFL career, making the Pro Bowl six times. Jeremy Beal also lived up to the four-star ranking. The strong side defensive end is still the Big 12 record holder for tackles for loss at 59.
The '07 class:
Frank Alexander was the highest-ranked defensive lineman in the Sooners' '07 recruiting class. Alexander recorded 142 tackles, 83 solo, 44 TFLs, and 20.5 sacks at OU (2008-2011). Frank Alexander was named the 2011 Big 12 defensive player of the year and was a fourth-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
The '08 class:
R.J. Washington was the lone five-star on the defensive line for the Sooners in the 2008 class. Washington did not necessarily live up to the five-star hype but improved in his junior and senior seasons. During his time at OU (2009-2012), Washington recorded 57 tackles, 34 solo, 8.5 TFLs, and seven sacks.
The '09 class:
Jamarkus McFarland was a five-star defensive tackle in 2009 for the Sooners. In his four years at OU (2009-2012), McFarland tallied 81 tackles, 38 solo, 17 TFLs, and 7.5 sacks.
The '10 class:
Geneo Grissom was the Sooners' best defensive line get in the 2010 class. In Grissom's four years at OU (2011-2014), he made 88 tackles, 55 solo, 16.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, and two pick-sixes. Grissom was drafted in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
The '11 class:
Jordan Phillips was the Sooners' highest-rated defensive lineman in the 2011 recruiting class. Phillips, a four-star, lived up to the expectations, recording 57 tackles, 28 solo, 9 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks on his way to becoming a second-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.
The '12 class:
Charles Tapper headlined the Sooners' 2012 defensive class. Tapper, a weak side defensive end, recorded 135 tackles, 66 solo, 24 TFLs, and 13.5 sacks during his time at OU (2012-2015). The Dallas Cowboys drafted Tapper in the 2016 NFL Draft.
The '13 class:
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo wasn't the Sooners' highest-rated defensive lineman in the 2013 class, but he ended up being the best player. Okoronkwo recorded 162 tackles, 105 solo, 33 TFLs, and 20 sacks during his time at OU (2014-2017), in which he won the 2017 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. The Los Angeles Rams drafted Okoronkwo in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
The '14 class:
Dwayne Orso-Bacchus was the only defensive line recruit in the 2014 class to play a down at OU. Orso-Bacchus only played in a handful of games, recording two tackles in his OU career (2015-2016).
The '15 class:
Neville Gallimore was the Sooners' top-ranked defensive line recruit in the 2015 class. Gallimore, a four-star defensive tackle, had a great career for the Sooners. In his five years at OU (2015-2019), Gallimore recorded 147 tackles, 67 solo, 17 TFLs, and 8.5 sacks. The Dallas Cowboys selected Gallimore in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The '16 class:
Amani Bledsoe was the Sooners' highest-rated defensive lineman in the 2016 recruiting class. Bledsoe made 58 tackles, 29 solo, 8.5 TFLs, and four sacks in his career at Oklahoma (2016-2018).
The '17 class:
Isaiah Thomas ended up being the Sooners' best defensive lineman in the 2017 class. Thomas made 80 tackles, 45 solo, 24.5 TFLs, and 16.5 sacks in his four years at OU (2017-2021). The Tulsa native was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns
The '18 class:
Ronnie Perkins was the Sooners' highest-rated defensive lineman in the 2018 class. Perkins was one of the Sooners' best defensive ends in recent history. Perkins made 98 tackles, 61 solo, 32 TFLs, and 16.5 sacks in his three-year career at OU (2018-2020). The New England Patriots selected Perkins in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The '19 class:
The Sooners' 2019 recruiting class is the highest-rated defensive line class in program history at 125.08 (modern recruiting era). Although the Sooners class was rated high, the class did not meet expectations. David Ugwoegbu saw the most action of the class, but at linebacker, not on the defensive line. Marcus Stripling looks to make an impact this year for the Sooners, but being in a unit with "competitive depth," it may be difficult for him to get playing time. In his four years at OU (2019-2022), Stripling has made 30 tackles, 17 solo, 7.5 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks.
The '20 class:
Reggie Grimes was the Sooners' highest-rated defensive lineman out of high school in the 2020 class. Grimes started the 2022 season with an impressive 2.5-sack performance against UTEP. This year, he will look to see the field in one of the deepest defensive end rooms the Sooners have had in a long time.
The '21 class:
Clayton Smith was the highest-rated defensive lineman for the Sooners in 2021; however, he did not pan out as he transferred to Texas State after the 2022 campaign. Kelvin Gilliam looks to play a more significant role for the Sooners this season, working through the deep defensive end room. Gilliam has appeared in 13 games in two seasons, making seven tackles, three solo, and 0.5 TFL. Ethan Downs has played the most significant role of the entire '21 defensive line class. In 2022, Downs was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team. Downs has played in all 26 games since arriving at OU, starting all 13 last year, recording 52 tackles, 27 solo, 16.5 TFLs, five sacks, and forced one fumble (2021-2022). Nathan Rawlins-Kibonge never suited up for the Sooners, as he transferred to South Alabama shortly after signing with OU.
The '22 class:
Gracen Halton looks to make an impact for the Sooners this season, as he is expected to see the field quite a bit at defensive tackle. R Mason Thomas appeared in ten games as a freshman in 2022, making seven tackles, four solo, one TFL, and 0.5 sacks. This season, R Mason Thomas is expected to be a significant contributor at defensive end as he is expected to be at the minimum on the two-deep if not a starter. Kevonte Henry, Cedric Roberts, and Alton Tarber entered the transfer portal following the 2022 season.
The '23 class:
Adepoju Adebawore will be an early contributor for the Sooners on the defensive line, as the five-star defensive end has turned many heads this offseason. Derrick LeBlanc transferred to UCF following the spring. Ashton Sanders also had an impressive offseason for the Sooners and will push for playing time early. Sanders was with the team immediately following early signing day in December as a part of bowl preparations. Taylor Weim and Markus Stong may not see the field much this season, but they are both expected to have prominent roles for the Sooners in the future.
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