For much of the past decade, Oklahoma’s defense has been a punchline, struggling to keep pace with the high-powered offenses of college football. But in 2024, the narrative has flipped. The Sooners’ defense has emerged as the driving force behind their success this season, and head coach Brent Venables, along with new defensive coordinator Zac Alley, deserves credit for orchestrating a remarkable transformation in the team’s pass rush.
At the heart of this resurgence is defensive end R Mason Thomas, whose breakout season is putting him on pace to potentially etch his name in Oklahoma’s record books. Thomas is projected to finish with 13 sacks, which would be the most by a Sooners’ defender since Jeremy Beal recorded 11 sacks in 2009. He is also closing in on the program’s all-time single-season sack record of 14, a mark that’s been standing according to SoonerStats.
Oklahoma’s defense as a unit has been equally impressive. With 18 sacks already under their belt, the Sooners rank second nationally. To put that in perspective, the team managed just 24 sacks in 2023 and 28 in 2022. At their current clip of nearly four sacks per game, the Sooners are on pace to rack up 48 sacks by season’s end—a number that would place them among the top pass-rushing teams in the country. For reference, Penn State led the nation with 49 sacks last season. Oklahoma hasn’t seen this kind of production since their 2020 squad, which notched 42 sacks led by the likes of Nik Bonitto, Ronnie Perkins, and Isaiah Thomas.
What’s especially noteworthy about the Sooners’ pass rush this season is its versatility. Ten different players have recorded a sack, and 19 have notched pressures. Sixteen defenders boast a pass rush win rate of over 10%, showcasing Oklahoma’s depth and creativity in getting after the quarterback. Venables and Alley have schemed up ways to make the entire defense a pass-rushing threat, and it’s paying off.
The development of R Mason Thomas has been key, but he’s not alone. Players like Trace Ford, Ethan Downs, and Gracen Halton have also stepped up, demonstrating the coaching staff’s ability to nurture talent and improve performance across the board. This newfound pass-rushing prowess is giving the Sooners’ defense an edge they haven’t had in years.
As Oklahoma’s secondary continues to improve and the team’s highly-ranked recruiting classes pour in, the future of the Sooners’ pass rush looks even brighter. This is especially critical as Oklahoma gears up for its move to the SEC, where a strong defense is essential. If Venables and his staff can keep this momentum going, the Sooners could be a defensive powerhouse for years to come.
