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DT Jalen Redmond Returns to Oklahoma Lineup

Without their star interior defensive lineman, the Sooners' pass rush has lacked teeth.

John E. Hoover

NORMAN — Just in time for “Championship November,” Oklahoma is getting back one of its best defensive linemen.

Jalen Redmond, who started the first three games but has been out with a knee injury for the last five, is expected to be back on the field this week for Saturday’s game against Texas Tech.

Coach Lincoln Riley announced the news during his weekly press conference on Tuesday. Redmond made the trip last week to Kansas, suited up and went through pregame warmups. But he didn’t play in OU’s 35-23 win over the Jayhawks.

“He was close to being ready last week,” Riley said. “But not quite there. Had him there in sort of an emergency scenario, but we do anticipate having him available this week.”

Redmond has played in three games this season, Redmond recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks while also recovering a fumble.

Redmond, who missed 2018 due to blood clots, led the team in sacks in 2019 with 6.5, before opting out of the 2020 season.

A source said Redmond’s absence has been precautionary as he’s been on blood thinners following his injury.

His return is much needed for an Oklahoma defense that recorded just one sack against TCU and Kansas.

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John E. Hoover
JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

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