The No. 16 Sooners are just a few days away from its season-opener football game against Temple on Friday night.
As a result, the Sooners released the full depth chart for the opening game, and upon first review, it included many in-state prospects on both sides of the ball. Due to the number of prospects, we’ll split this into a two-part series. First, let’s look at the defensive side of the ball and see who the Oklahoma natives who made the 2024 opening depth chart are.
Oct 7, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Ethan Downs (40) stands over Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) after Ewers is sacked for a loss during the second half at the Cotton Bowl. (Photo: JEROM MIRON, USA TODAY Sports)
Ethan DownsDefensive end, Weatherford
Downs has led the Sooners in sacks over the past couple of seasons and was the focal point of one of the greatest Red River Rivalry moments in Sooners’ fans’ eyes. Downs signed to the Sooners as a four-star recruit out of Weatherford High School in Weatherford, Oklahoma, in the 2021 class. Downs was named District 4A-1 MVP as a senior in 2020 after recording 50 tackles, four sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery.
(Photo: Brian Dohn, 247Sports)
David StoneDefensive tackle, Del City
It was no surprise to see David Stone on the three-deep, even as a true freshman out of the 2024 class. Stone signed to the Sooners as a five-star out of IMG Academy in Floridabut he grew up and is from Del City, Oklahoma. He attended Del City High School as a top recruit for his first two years of high school before transferring to IMG Academy and improving his stock even more. Stone comes in as the third guy in rotation of the defensive tackles, so he’ll likely see the field a ton this season.
Oklahoma defensive lineman Trace Ford gets ready to go through a drill on Day 4 of fall camp, August 5, 2024. (Photo: JAMES D. JACKSON, 247Sports)
Trace FordDefensive end, Edmond
Ford is looking to be even better than he was last year for the Sooners in his final college football season. Ford didn’t initially sign to the Sooners out of high school, but he would transfer later on in his career. Coming out of Edmond Santa Fe High School in Edmond, Oklahoma, Ford signed to Oklahoma State as a four-star prospect of the 2019 class. As a senior in high school, Ford racked up 40 tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, according to MaxPreps. He also caught 18 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns his final season.
NOAH Edge Danny Okoye committed to Oklahoma over Tennessee and Texas in Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 20, 2023 (Photo: JAMES D. JACKSON, 247Sports)
Okoye was one of the most feared defensive ends throughout his prep career as he helped NOAH Homeschool win a 2022 national championship and become a power program in the state of Oklahoma. Okoye signed to the Sooners as a four-star recruit out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He enrolled early and has become a rising talent on the depth chart. Okoye comes in as the third spot as a defensive end on the right side of the line of scrimmage. So, he’ll likely see the field multiple times this season.
(Photo: Parker Thune, 247Sports)
Spears-Jennings has steadily climbed up the Sooners depth chart after signing as a four-star in the 2022 class. He comes in at No. 2 on the Sooners depth chart as a free-safety. Spears-Jennings is from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where he played High School football for Broken Arrow. In his senior season, he helped Broken Arrow to an Oklahoma 6A-I state semifinal berth after tallying 56 total tackles (two for loss), two forced fumbles, and four interceptions (including a pick-six). He also caught 36 passes for 626 yards and eight touchdowns in 2021 and ran the 100 and 200 meters for the Tigers’ track team.
(Photo: Ricardo B. Brazziell, USA TODAY Sports)
Williams could eventually be a high NFL Draft talent if he stays healthy this season and puts up similar numbers as his sophomore campaign for the Sooners. Williams signed to the Sooners as a four-star prospect out of Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 2022 class. For Booker T. Washington (OK.) High School, Williams made 29 total tackles, forced two fumbles and registered three interceptions (including a pick-six) as a senior. He also caught 21 passes for 239 total yards and a touchdown as a wide receiver in 2021. As a freshman, he won the Class 6A state title in the 400-meter dash.
(Photo: Brandon Drumm-OUinsider, 247Sports)
Johnson played many snaps on special teams for the Sooners last year and has now made a leap into the third spot as the right cornerback this season. He signed to OU as a four-star in the 2023 class out of Mustang High School in Mustang, Oklahoma. There, Johnson played and excelled at multiple sports and has brought that freakish athleticism to the Sooners. In his senior season for Mustang, Johnson totaled 39 tackles, one interception, one forced fumble and four pass breakups and over 1,200 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns as a receiver and return specialist.
