Brent Venables’ Defensive Renaissance at Oklahoma Has NFL Scouts Buzzing Over Danny Stutsman’s First-Round Draft Projection

The Oklahoma Sooners are preparing for a seismic shift as they enter the 2025 season, one that includes a step up in competition with the move to the SEC and a renewed sense of identity under head coach Brent Venables. A cornerstone of that evolution has been a dominant resurgence on the defensive side of the football—a phase of the game that had once fallen to the wayside during the final years of the Lincoln Riley era. The catalyst behind this defensive revolution? Linebacker Danny Stutsman, the Sooners’ undisputed X-factor and now a name climbing NFL Draft boards at an extraordinary pace.

Stutsman’s NFL draft stock is soaring, and for good reason. With a combination of old-school toughness and modern versatility, he has emerged as the prototypical linebacker scouts covet in the professional game. After racking up 104 tackles, 3 sacks, and countless momentum-shifting plays in 2024, he enters the 2025 college football season not just as a defensive leader for Oklahoma, but as one of the top linebacker prospects in the entire draft class. NFL evaluators have taken note—some already projecting Stutsman as a solid first-round pick, while others believe he has the upside to be the first linebacker taken off the board.

None of this would have been possible without the stabilizing presence and sharp defensive mind of Brent Venables. Known for his aggressive and complex schemes during his years at Clemson, Venables brought his philosophy back to Norman with a mission: to reshape the Sooners into a team that doesn’t just rely on firepower, but wins games by stopping opponents in their tracks. His fingerprints are now all over Oklahoma’s defensive identity, and Stutsman has become the symbol of that transformation.

The numbers don’t lie. Under Venables, Oklahoma’s defense finished 2024 ranked in the top 25 nationally in multiple categories—total defense, scoring defense, and third-down efficiency among them. That’s a dramatic improvement from just a few years ago, when the Sooners were routinely torched for big plays, hemorrhaging points against high-octane Big 12 offenses. The turnaround has been remarkable, and Stutsman’s rise mirrors it.

A 6-foot-4, 240-pound physical force with elite sideline-to-sideline speed, Stutsman is more than just a stats accumulator. He’s a tone-setter, a communicator, and a trusted extension of Venables on the field. His football IQ allows him to process plays quickly, sniff out misdirection, and anticipate the action before it happens. That has made him invaluable to a defense that thrives on disguising pressures and confusing quarterbacks with pre-snap shifts.

In interviews, Venables has repeatedly praised Stutsman for his leadership and preparation, calling him “the heartbeat of the defense.” It’s no coincidence that as Stutsman matured into his role, the defense as a whole took a giant leap forward.

NFL analysts have drawn comparisons between Stutsman and some of the league’s top linebackers. His range and instincts have been likened to Matt Milano of the Buffalo Bills, while his frame and downhill physicality resemble former All-Pro Leighton Vander Esch. Others see shades of Fred Warner in Stutsman’s coverage ability—particularly his knack for reading quarterback eyes and closing passing lanes.

Scouts have also highlighted how comfortable Stutsman looks dropping into zone coverage, taking on running backs in space, and even blitzing off the edge. That versatility is what separates him in a draft class that may lack a clear-cut superstar at the linebacker position. Stutsman’s ability to do a little bit of everything—and do it all at a high level—has made him a hot commodity.

For Oklahoma fans, it’s a vindicating moment. There was a time not too long ago when Sooner linebackers were considered defensive liabilities rather than playmakers. But Venables, returning to his roots and now fully back in command of the defense as play-caller for 2025, has restored a level of toughness and discipline that had long been missing. Players like Stutsman are flourishing because they’re finally in a system that maximizes their skill sets.

And Venables isn’t done. This fall, he’ll be counting on Stutsman even more as the Sooners navigate an unforgiving SEC schedule that includes the likes of Georgia, Alabama, and LSU. For Oklahoma to compete, its defense will need to stand tall—and there’s little doubt that Stutsman will be at the center of that fight.

Adding intrigue to the 2025 season is the arrival of new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, a rising star who previously engineered explosive attacks at Washington State. Alongside quarterback John Mateer, Arbuckle will be tasked with keeping the offense humming while the defense does its job. But it’s clear where the identity of this team now resides.

The Sooners are a defensive team again.

In the locker room and in practice, Stutsman’s voice carries weight. Younger players follow his example, and even veterans lean on his experience. Teammates say he’s relentless in film study, vocal on the field, and calm in moments of pressure. Coaches say he embodies the kind of culture Venables has worked tirelessly to instill.

It hasn’t all been easy. Stutsman had to earn his stripes during his early years in Norman, and there were growing pains. But his development has been steady, and now, as he enters what could be his final college season, he looks every bit the All-American candidate and future NFL starter.

His draft evaluation hasn’t come without scrutiny, though. Some scouts still want to see more consistency in man coverage, particularly against twitchy slot receivers. Others wonder how he’ll hold up against elite SEC offensive lines and dual-threat quarterbacks week after week. But for every question, there are multiple answers on tape. And so far, Stutsman is checking every box.

If he continues on this trajectory, it’s not just first-round hype he’ll be carrying into the NFL Combine—it’s potential franchise cornerstone status.

The 2025 NFL Draft promises to be a showcase of offensive skill players, but Stutsman represents the rare defender who could crash the party in a big way. His story is more than a breakout season—it’s the culmination of a culture shift, a coach’s vision coming to life, and a program reclaiming its edge.

For Brent Venables and the Sooners, the return to defensive dominance is no longer theoretical. It’s real. It’s violent. And it’s led by No. 28, a linebacker built for the next level.

Danny Stutsman came to Oklahoma with promise. He leaves it as a symbol of a defensive renaissance—and a future first-rounder who may soon hear his name called on the biggest stage of all.