The biggest question surrounding Oklahoma’s linebacker room entering the offseason wasn’t about talent—it was about survival.
The Sooners lost veteran Cheetah linebacker Kendal Daniels to the NFL Draft, watched Kobie McKinzie and Sammy Omosigho depart through the transfer portal, and briefly faced the possibility of losing Owen Heinecke because of an eligibility dispute. What once looked like a position headed for a complete rebuild has instead become one of the deepest and most experienced linebacker groups in the SEC.
Thanks to a combination of roster retention, transfer portal success, and another year in Brent Venables’ defensive system, Oklahoma enters 2026 with a linebacker corps capable of becoming one of the defining strengths of its defense.
Returning the Heart of the Defense
Everything starts with two veterans who elected to return for one more season.
Kip Lewis enters 2026 as the unquestioned leader of Oklahoma’s defense after leading the Sooners with 76 tackles last season. The redshirt senior added 10.5 tackles for loss and four sacks while earning preseason First-Team All-America recognition from Phil Steele. Lewis has developed into exactly what Venables wants from his weakside linebacker—a player who can chase plays sideline-to-sideline, blitz effectively, and cover in space.
Alongside him is sixth-year veteran Owen Heinecke, whose return may have been Oklahoma’s biggest offseason victory. After receiving another season of eligibility, Heinecke brings back one of the defense’s most productive players. He finished 2025 with 74 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and three sacks while delivering some of the year’s biggest performances, including a 13-tackle outing against Tennessee.
Together, Lewis and Heinecke accounted for 150 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks last season.
That kind of proven production is difficult to replace. Fortunately for Oklahoma, it doesn’t have to.
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The Perfect Addition
While retaining Lewis and Heinecke stabilized the room, adding Michigan transfer Cole Sullivan elevated it.
Sullivan arrives in Norman after recording 44 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and three interceptions for the Wolverines in 2025. His athleticism and versatility make him an ideal fit for Oklahoma’s hybrid Cheetah position, where he’ll be asked to function as both linebacker and defensive back depending on the offensive formation.
At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Sullivan gives the Sooners something they lacked a season ago—a linebacker with the size to defend the run and the athletic ability to stay on the field against spread offenses.
His arrival gives Venables far more flexibility with personnel packages while softening the loss of Kendal Daniels.
The Voice in the Meeting Room
Another significant offseason addition came on the coaching staff.
Inside linebackers coach Nate Dreiling enters his second season in Norman after arriving before the 2025 campaign following successful stops at Pittsburg State, New Mexico State, and Utah State.
Dreiling has quickly earned a reputation as one of college football’s rising defensive coaches, allowing Venables to focus on coordinating the entire defense while Dreiling oversees the day-to-day development of the linebacker room.
The continuity between Venables and Dreiling should pay dividends as Oklahoma enters Year Two with the current defensive staff structure.
Building the Next Wave
The starting trio may receive most of the attention, but the Sooners feel significantly better about their depth than they did a year ago.
Redshirt sophomore James Nesta emerged during spring practice as a reliable backup after adding strength during the offseason, while redshirt freshmen Marcus James, along with true freshmen Beau Jandreau, and Kristan Moore provide intriguing long-term athleticism.
The coaching staff also has flexibility thanks to Sullivan’s ability to play multiple linebacker positions, allowing Oklahoma to adjust personnel without sacrificing experience or athleticism.
That versatility becomes invaluable during the weekly grind of an SEC schedule.
2025 By the Numbers
| Player | Tackles | TFL | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kip Lewis | 76 | 10.5 | 4.0 |
| Owen Heinecke | 74 | 12.0 | 3.0 |
| Combined | 150 | 22.5 | 7.0 |
Projected Linebacker Depth Chart
| Position | Starter | Primary Backup | Development |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIKE | Owen Heinecke | Cole Sullivan | Jacob Curry |
| WILL | Kip Lewis | James Nesta | Marcus James |
| Cheetah | Cole Sullivan | Taylor Heim | Beau Jandreau |
Why This Group Could Be Better in 2026
Experience is the biggest reason for optimism.
Lewis and Heinecke have already proven they can thrive in the SEC, and Sullivan adds another experienced Power Four playmaker to the mix. Instead of replacing production, Oklahoma is building upon it.
The addition of another year in Venables’ defensive system, continued development under Nate Dreiling, and improved depth behind the starters should allow the Sooners to play faster, disguise more defensive looks, and better withstand the physical demands of conference play.
Championship defenses are built through the middle, and few teams in the SEC can match Oklahoma’s combination of production, leadership, and versatility at linebacker.
If the defensive line is the engine of Brent Venables’ defense, this linebacker corps is the steering wheel—experienced enough to recognize problems before they develop and athletic enough to erase mistakes when they do. That combination gives Oklahoma one of the conference’s strongest second-level units entering the 2026 season.
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