Brent Venables knows he can count on Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman to be leaders for the Oklahoma defense in 2024. The Sooners linebacker and safety are two of the most experienced players on the roster with OU set to make the transition from the Big 12 to the SEC.
Both Stutsman and Bowman stood out this past season for their play on the field, ranking first and third, respectively, on the team in total tackles. However, it was also the way they carried themselves in the locker room among their teammates that strengthened Venables’ trust in them even more.
The coach pointed to the pair as being great examples of how to approach the development process from their freshman season on and the results it can lead to.
“I look at two guys like Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman,” Venables said at the SEC spring meetings. “Billy was a fantastic athlete and really more of a skill player coming out of high school but really sunk his teeth in when it comes to learning a defensive position. Got baptized early in his career and then just developed into an All-American and is hungry for more.
“My exit meeting with him postseason was just amazing. He and his family and the humility and respect that he has for the game, his self-awareness on who he wanted to be. That’s a refreshing perspective.”
Bowman arrived on campus in Norman in 2021 as a top 100 recruit coming out of Denton Ryan High School (TX). He was listed as the No. 2 athlete in that year’s recruiting cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
He played both defensive back and wide receiver in high school but chose to focus solely on defense in college. He started seven contests as a true freshman and would further go on to develop under Venables, who took over in 2022. Bowman was a first team All-Big 12 selection this past season, leading the country with three interceptions returned for a touchdown and tying for second with six total picks.
Sutsman joined Oklahoma the same season as Bowman and was a four-star recruit. He worked his way into a starting role by the time Venables arrived and ranked sixth in the Big 12 with 104 tackles this past season.
The linebacker will likely be a candidate to compete for the Butkus Award in 2024, but his focus this offseason hasn’t been individual. Venables went on to tell a story that was an example of the unselfishness that Stutsman has displayed throughout his career as a Sooner.
“Danny Stutsman, a guy that wasn’t rated real high but is a guy that’s worked his butt off to develop not only as a football player, but as a leader,” the coach said. “He comes to my house on his own. He calls me and he’s back in town a week early and he comes over. He says, ‘hey, can I come by on Sunday?’ I already had an exit meeting with him post-spring. I gave him a long list of stuff but he wants to come by and make sure he gets it right as they begin the summer. ‘What are your expectations of me? How can I serve as a leader? Who are the top guys and what are the right things that I need to be locked in and focused on for the football team?’
“It wasn’t about himself. It was all about the team. There’s a lot of unselfish players that are out there, but that’s ambition on a Sunday.”
The Oklahoma defense saw solid improvement from Venables’ first to second season, going from 99th to 49th in the country in points allowed per game. Now as the Sooners hope to make another jump in Year 3 under their coach, Danny Stutsman and Billy Bowman will be at the forefront.
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