3 defensive players to watch in OU's spring game on Saturday

The Oklahoma Sooners will host their annual spring football game on Saturday in Norman, with kickoff set for noon. This will be the first opportunity for fans to see the 2026 edition of the Sooners on the field, and after no spring game a year ago, there is excitement about the return of the event.

After their best season in a long, long time last year, OU's defense is looking for more of the same out of Team 132. With head coach Brent Venables taking over the play-calling and acting as the de facto defensive coordinator last year, the Sooners had one of college football's deepest and most physical defenses.

Though Oklahoma lost a lot of depth, many of the top-line starters return, including Jayden Jackson, David Stone, Taylor Wein, Kip Lewis, Eli Bowen, Courtland Guillory, and Peyton Bowen. Key returners who played a lot last year and will step into starting roles this year include Reggie Powers III and Michael Boganowski, both out of the 2024 recruiting class. However, there's much to figure out behind the starters, and they'll be looking for newcomers or youngsters to step up in a big way.

Here are three defensive players to keep your eyes on during OU's spring game this week.

1. Danny Okoye, DL

Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) is grabbed by Oklahoma defensive lineman Danny Okoye (16) during an NCAA college football game on November 1, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn.

Defensive lineman Danny Okoye is competing to be the starter at defensive end opposite Wein, and with Adepoju Adebawore out for the spring due to surgery, Okoye could be in the driver's seat. However, there are plenty of players who are also looking to move up the depth chart this spring. UTSA transfer Kenny Ozowalu will play a lot this season, and returners Wyatt Gilmore and Alex Shieldnight will be looking to contribute as well. True freshman Jake Kreul will also be pushing Okoye, and the third-year player can go a long way towards becoming a starter with a big day on Saturday.

2. Cole Sullivan, LB

Cole Sullivan (18) runs drills during an Oklahoma (OU) football practice in Norman, Okla., on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Linebacker Cole Sullivan was a massive portal win for Venables, getting the former Michigan Wolverine to come in and be the starter at the MIKE linebacker spot. The Sooners are very thin at inside linebacker after losing Sammy Omosigho and Kobie McKinzie to the transfer portal while awaiting the eligibility decision of Owen Heinecke. Sullivan will need to hit the ground running in Norman, but he was very productive in Ann Arbor, showing a good nose for the ball last season. He's big and physical, but also needs to have Venables' scheme down pat by the time September rolls around.

3. Trent Wilson, DL

Sep 6, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Trent Wilson (90) takes the field prior to a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Defensive lineman Trent Wilson has earned praise for his winter and spring performances, and he has a chance to cap off a great run with a strong day on Saturday. Behind Jackson and Stone, the Sooners are very thin at defensive tackle, so Wilson, Ozowalu (who can play DE and DT), Nigel Smith II, Georgia State transfer Bishop Thomas, and true freshmen James Carrington and Brian Harris are all fighting for snaps behind that excellent duo. Wilson is entering his second year in the program, and with Jackson and Stone out this spring, he's gotten a lot of starter reps over the past few weeks. He could burst onto the scene this weekend.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 3 Sooners defensive players to watch for in OU's spring game