Linebacker Questions, Recruiting Guest Lists: OU’s 2025 Season Kicks Off

The wait is over — it’s game week in Norman. In this episode of the Sooner Nation Podcast, we dive deep into one of the biggest storylines of Oklahoma’s 2025 season: Brent Venables’ linebackers. With Danny Stutsman off to the NFL and multiple transfers thinning the room, the Sooners are leaning on Kip Lewis, Kobie McKinzie, and Sammy Omosigho to hold the middle of the defense together. Can this trio deliver in the SEC, or will depth concerns haunt OU? Then, we shift to the recruiting trail, where the season opener against Illinois State and a primetime Week 2 showdown with Michigan will double as showcase weekends for future Sooners. From 2028 prospects like Jayden Thompson and Camren Phillips to high-priority 2027 defensive lineman Elija Harmon, OU is laying groundwork for the SEC battles ahead. It’s a full breakdown of the linebackers, the recruits, and what it all means for the Sooners’ future — right here on the Sooner Nation Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices