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    Kip Lewis Highlights

    Oklahoma Freshmen: Getting a Jump on College Football — LB Kip Lewis

    It's not clear yet what Oklahoma's front seven will look like under Brent Venables, so a lot of players, including Lewis, will have to figure out their roles this spring.

    Editor’s Note: Oklahoma welcomes 17 freshmen (so far) in the 2022 recruiting class. This is Part 7 of a 10-part series introducing Oklahoma’s early enrollees in the 2022 recruiting class.

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    LB Kip Lewis

    6-1, 200

    Carthage, TX

    247 Sports: 4-star, No. 233 overall, No. 19 LB

    Rivals: 4-star, No. 191 overall, No. 15 OLB

    Background: After missing most of his sophomore year with a knee injury, Lewis returned better than ever in 2020, leading Carthage’s 14-0 state championship run by leading the team in tackles. He did it again in 2021 as he compiled 140 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, four quarterback sacks and totaled three fumbles. He was named district MVP as he helped Carthage to an 11-1 record with 108 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and six sacks. Oklahoma offered Lewis last January, shortly after Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas Tech offered — and one day after USC. Lewis soon began drawing interest from the SEC and the rest of the Big 12. After unofficial visits to Texas and Texas A&M, Lewis decided to pull the trigger and committed to Oklahoma on April 30. Even after Lincoln Riley and his linebackers coach, Brian Odom, left for USC, Lewis remained committed to the Sooners and signed in December over Notre Dame, Texas, Texas A&M and others.

    2022 Projection: Sooner Nation will love Lewis’ motor. He is a fierce competitor, loves to chase down ballcarriers and fits the run with delightful aggression. How much attention he gets early at Oklahoma will depend on how fast he picks things up this spring. There are two returning seniors ahead of him who started last year, and the new coaching staff will want to see for themselves what DaShaun White and David Ugwoegbu are all about. Same for Danny Stutsman, a freshman backup last season, speedy Shane Whitter, Joseph Wete and others. It’s also not yet clear how many actual linebackers Brent Venables and Ted Roof want to use. They typically have featured a 4-3 base front, so guys who previously played the rush linebacker, like Marcus Stripling, Brynden Wallker and Clayton Smith, might find themselves in a more traditional linebacker role. That will shake out some this spring, and Lewis and fellow freshman Jaren Kanak will have an opportunity to show their stuff.

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    Meet Oklahoma's 2022 Early Enrollees

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