As Danny Stutsman departs from Oklahoma, Kip Lewis seems to be the next man up.

A redshirt sophomore linebacker in 2024, Lewis was one of the Sooners’ better defenders. In addition to his 28 solo tackles, Lewis intercepted two passes, running both of them back for touchdowns.

Lewis hopes to be the leader that Stutsman was over his four years at OU. But his goal isn’t to be a Stutsman clone.

“I feel like I’m my own player and my own leader in how I do things,” Lewis said. “Danny’s a great player, great leader. Taught me everything I need to know. I think I’m just my own person. I don’t think I need to step into his role and be the Danny. There’s only one.”

Lewis played and started in all 12 of the Sooners’ games in the 2024 season. It was his second season as a regular on OU’s defense after playing in just two games as a true freshman.

In Oklahoma’s first season as an SEC squad, Lewis and his defensive counterparts saw plenty of offensive stars. Between Garrett Nussmeier at LSU and Quinn Ewers at Texas, there was never really a dull moment for the Sooners during conference play.

Lewis will see a different type of challenge at the Armed Forces Bowl against Navy.

WATCH: Navy HC Brian Newberry Ahead of Armed Forces Bowl vs. Oklahoma

The Midshipmen — like the other service academies — run a triple-option offense. While Navy, Army and Air Force struggle to get the highly-touted recruits that other programs draw, the unconventional offense sets them apart.

Thankfully for Lewis, this style of offense isn’t new.

“I’m a little used to it. So it’s been a minute since I played it, but it brought me back to my roots playing the Wing-T. There’s a team called Pleasant Grove out there in Texas, so they used to give me a run for my money back in the day.”

Navy finished the regular season 9-3. The Midshipmen started the season 6-0 before losing three times in a four-game span.

They ended the season well, though, beating both East Carolina and Army by double digits to end the regular season.

Lewis and multiple of his teammates tuned in as the Midshipmen beat Army in the annual rivalry game.

“They showed a lot of fight, a lot of grit,” Lewis said. “I think that’s an important key into playing football.”

Lewis will play only one more game as an underclassman. Then, he’ll step into the role of other defensive leaders the Sooners have seen recently, whether that’s Stutsman, Billy Bowman Jr., Woodi Washington or others.

Games like the Armed Forces Bowl will help him get there.

“Just always having to bring my best effort every day,” Lewis said. “Just bringing everything I’ve got. Just every day, I bring my value into whatever that is, whatever I’ve gotta do for my team. I think it’ll be a big role.”

The Sooners will battle the Midshipmen on Dec. 27 in Fort Worth. The game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

PORTAL TRACKER

The Cowboys have picked up a second tight end of the transfer portal.

North Texas transfer Oscar Hammond has committed to Oklahoma State, according to 247Sports’ Chris Hummer. Hammond is an Oklahoma native, playing his high school ball at Collinsville. As a 6-foot-3, 236-pound junior with the Mean Green in 2024, Hammond caught 19 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown.

The 2024 season was Hammond’s first at North Texas, as he started his college career in Edmond at UCO. Playing 19 games in two seasons with the Bronchos, he caught 58 passes for 790 yards and five touchdowns. Collinsville won the 5A state title in Hammond’s senior season.

Hammond joins Central Arkansas transfer Jordan Owens as a second tight end transfer in the Cowboys’ portal class. Part of a two-commit Friday evening, Hammond joins defensive end Kyran Duhon (UTEP) as the ninth and 10th commits the Cowboys have gotten out of the portal. Other offensive players in the class are linemen Kasen Carpenter (Tulsa) and Lavaka Taukeiaho (Weber State) and running back Kalib Hicks (Oklahoma).

Tyler Foster finished out his eligibility in 2024, but OSU also played true freshman Josh Ford quite a bit this past season. The Cowboys also signed high school tight end Jordan Vyborny to join Hammond and Owens as newcomers in the room. That position room has undergone a leadership change this offseason, as along with a host of other staff moves, OSU has reportedly brought in DJ Tialavea from Utah State to coach Cowboy tight ends.

After filing for bankruptcy protections, Big Lots is closing its doors nationwide, with the remaining stores holding “going out of business sales.” 

There are only five locations in the Oklahoma City metro, but according to a company press release, all stores will begin the closing process.

“The Company is preparing to commence going out of business (GOB) sales at all remaining Big Lots store locations in the coming days to protect the value of its estate,” Big Lots said in the press release. 

Here’s what this means for Oklahoma City’s locations. 

Big Lots national closure could be reversed if company is bought

Big Lots CEO Bruce Thorn said the closures could be reversed if a company sale is completed. Because of this, Big Lots said it would continue to serve customers in-store and online but did not specify how long the sales would last.

“While we remain hopeful that we can close an alternative going concern transaction, in order to protect the value of the Big Lots estate, we have made the difficult decision to begin the GOB process,” Big Lots said in the press release. 

Where are OKC’s Big Lots locations?

Oklahoma City metro has 5 locations. Since this is the start of the GOB process, it cannot be confirmed when or if they will close. There are 18 locations in Oklahoma.

They are each located at: 

• 3000 NW 63 St 
• 7301 S Pennsylvania Ave 
• 16000 S Broadway, Edmond 
• 1630 Garth Brooks, Yukon 
• 160 N Air Depot, Midwest City