Potential breakout defender for Oklahoma Sooners pushing to unseat established veteran in starting lineup for the 2025 season
Heading into the 2025 college football season, the Oklahoma Sooners have to replace standout linebacker Danny Stutsman at the MIKE spot on their defense.
The long-standing thought has been that Kobie McKinzie would step right up into the role in the middle of the Sooners’ defense. However, one player has been turning heads in camp, building off of his 2024 film, and is making a serious push to disabuse that thought and assume the starting role himself.
Junior linebacker Samuel Omosigho played last season at the Cheetah position, a hybrid linebacker/safety/nickel role in the Sooners’ defense, after Kendel Dolby went down with an injury. However, he has moved back inside to linebacker for the 2025 season, and has a very real chance to start the season inside at MIKE over McKinzie.
It’s an adjustment for Omosigho, who has to adjust to handling the communications for the entire defense. However, he’s learning straight from Brent Venables and Nate Dreiling, two accomplished and bright coaches, who will get him set up right.
This is an interesting battle for a rather crucial spot of the Sooners’ defense, and it could set the tone for the defense. Who the coaching staff chooses will depend largely on just what exactly they want there.
McKinzie is smarter and is a leader of the team without a doubt. He has a complete grasp of the defense, and in Omosigho’s own words, he’s leaned extensively on McKinzie in his move inside.
However, Omosigho is a much better athlete, whose play on the field has been a tad bit more encouraging with the ground he can cover and his coverage ability. Yet, he is behind the curve when it comes to picking up the defense after spending his first two seasons outside.
How this battle shakes out will be one to keep an eye on throughout the season. Don’t rule out Omosigho pulling off an upset here to take the reigns on the Sooners’ defense.
