The Oklahoma Sooners defense was the real bright spot from an otherwise dismal 2024 season for OU. The defense was one of the best in the SEC in 2024 and kept them in games when the Sooners offense struggled to get anything going.
So it’s not surprising that when you look at Pro Football Focus’ grades for the Oklahoma Sooners, it’s dominated at the top by the defensive side of the ball.
If looking at players who played at least 186 snaps this season, each of the top 10 highest-graded players came from the defensive side of the ball. The only players close were Xavier Robinson and Michael Tarquin. Robinson only played 134 snaps but was still one of the more dynamic players on the roster in the second half of the season.
Here’s a look at the top 10 players from the 2024 season according to Pro Football Focus player grades.
1
Eli Bowen, CB
Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
PFF Grade: 80.3
Snaps: 510
Despite how the LSU game turned out, Eli Bowen was a revelation at cornerback in 2024. He was Oklahoma’s highest-graded defender, according to Pro Football Focus, and is one of the bright spots from this season.
2
Gracen Halton, DT
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
PFF Grade: 79.1
Snaps: 403
Gracen Halton also experienced a breakout season this year, leading the Sooners defensive tackle group in total pressures with 29 and just six behind R Mason Thomas for the team lead. He also had five sacks, which were second on the team.
3
Robert Spears-Jennings, S
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
PFF Grade: 78.7
Snaps: 599
Robert Spears-Jennings experienced a breakout season for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2024. He was third on the team in snaps and second in total tackles. Spears-Jennings led the team in forced fumbles and had 2.5 sacks this season.
4
Danny Stutsman, LB
William Purnell-Imagn Images
PFF Grade: 77.1
Snaps: 709
There hasn’t been a more important player to the Oklahoma Sooners than Danny Stutsman during the Brent Venables era. He just completed his third season with more than 100 tackles and was a consensus first-team All-American. He’ll be missed for his tenacity on the field and his leadership off of it.
5
Samuel Omosigho, LB
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
PFF Grade: 76.9
Snaps: 301
Samuel Omosigho began to see more action at Cheetah after the loss of Kendel Dolby and played well. Omosigho showed off his speed and athleticism throughout the season. He finished fifth in total tackles and sixth in tackles for loss in 2024 and looks primed for a breakout season in 2025.
6
Ethan Downs, DE
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
PFF Grade: 76.1
Snaps: 496
Ethan Downs finished second on the team in tackles for loss and had three sacks. He was one of the most consistent players on the edge for the Sooners over the last three years. His leadership and production will be hard to replace.
7
Damonic Williams, DT
Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
PFF Grade: 74.3
Snaps: 416
Damonic Williams had another strong season for the Oklahoma Sooners, finishing with five tackles for loss and a sack. He had the second-lowest missed tackle rate among players, with more than 186 snaps during the season, according to PFF.
8
Trace Ford, DE
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
PFF Grade: 74.1
Snaps: 321
After transferring from Oklahoma State, Trace Ford played two impactful years for the Oklahoma Sooners. His versatility stood out as a standup edge rusher. He was fourth on the team in total pressures according to PFF.
9
Dez Malone, CB
William Purnell-Imagn Images
PFF Grade: 73.7
Snaps: 371
Dez Malone was a solid transfer portal addition last offseason and played a key role in coverage for the Sooners. He had the third-highest coverage grade for the Sooners in 2024.
10
R Mason Thomas, DE
BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
PFF Grade: 73.6
Snaps: 530
R Mason Thomas led the Oklahoma Sooners in sacks in 2024 with 9.5 on the season. It’s the first time a Sooners has had nine sacks or more in a season since Ogbonnia Okoronkwo in 2016.
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