OU defense ready for life after Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman

FORT WORTH, Texas — Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman will be on the sideline at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Friday morning, cheering on their Oklahoma teammates as they take on Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl.

OU’s star linebacker and safety, respectively, will not be participating in the contest, though. Head coach Brent Venables confirmed at the Thursday press conference previewing the game that Stutsman and Bowman have opted out to begin preparations for their NFL futures.

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The senior duo’s coaches and teammates have great appreciation for all they have given to the program. Both were All-American selections in 2023 and could have been drafted after their junior years, but they decided to come back and help the Sooners get acclimated in the Southeastern Conference.

Stutsman and Bowman finished out their careers as members of 2024 All-SEC teams and Stutsman was a 2024 consensus All-American.

“I’m just very thankful for their All-American seasons and everything they’ve invested in this program and helping us, those two particularly, rebuild the defense that just a few short years ago we were playing well below the standard of defense here at the University of Oklahoma,” Venables said. “So, really appreciate all the work, commitment, the leadership they’ve invested to help us reestablish our defensive identity.”

Kobie McKinzie, who will start at Mike linebacker in Stutsman’s place moving forward, is excited to take up the mantle from his predecessor.

“I tell you he left us in great shape,” McKinzie said. “It’s like getting a car with one owner. It’s really, really great. Obviously, there have been some speed bumps, but it’s been great. I wouldn’t change any of it.”

Did McKinzie learn anything from Stutsman’s boisterous speeches and relentless work ethic?

“I did, 100%, but being a leader to me has always been natural,” McKinzie said. “I can’t tell you how or why, but people have naturally wanted to follow me without even saying anything at all. Growing up and realizing that, I embrace that more than anything. I love people following me. because if anything, I want it on my back. Blame it on me if it doesn’t go right. It’s been really good.”

McKinzie will have help leading the linebackers. Kip Lewis has become a standout in the Will position for the Sooners.

“Kip is my road dawg,” McKinzie said. “If I might have missed a signal, I know I can look and he’s got me while I’m taking care of something else. It always goes together.”

Stutsman’s imprint is all over those two, and the rest of the linebacker room. Sophomores Lewis Carter and Sammy Omosigho are also poised for more opportunities moving forward.

“Lewis and Sammy will forever be my guys,” McKinzie said. “They came in under the same type of situation that me and Kip did. They came in together. They’ve had the growing pains together. Sammy has some more reps, a couple of more starts. He’s able to nurture Lewis in a better way. Lewis will be able to take that better from him than a guy like me. I love those guys to death. They have just continuously grown.”

In the secondary, it’ll be Robert Spears-Jennings and Peyton Bowen who are taking over leadership roles with Bowman’s exit. McKinzie expects a simple transition for them.

“Just, we have nurtured this,” McKinzie said. “We have built this relationship on defense for three years now. It’s really natural and smooth on the defensive side because there is real cohesion and brotherhood that we have together. It’s really easy.”

Collectively, OU has a defense that is hungry to keep asserting itself in the post-Stutsman-and-Bowman era. That starts with shutting down Navy’s triple option attack.

“Man I want the win,” McKinzie said. “It’s on the schedule, why not take it? Why not? We’ve prepared really really well. The defense, excluding R Mason (Thomas) and some other guys (who might go to the NFL), maybe (Spears-Jennings) and (Damonic Williams), for the foreseeable future we’ll all be back. Why not build on it? I want to be the best. That’s why we all came back. That’s why we’re all here.

“I want to be the best defense in the country and I believe we can be.”