All Sooners

Oklahoma's Outspoken Leader on Defense Working to Keep History From Repeating Itself

Linebacker Danny Stutsman says 3-0 'doesn't mean anything' as conference play gets underway Saturday against Cincinnati

Tim Willert

Oklahoma's Outspoken Leader on Defense Working to Keep History From Repeating Itself
Oklahoma's Outspoken Leader on Defense Working to Keep History From Repeating Itself /
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NORMAN -- Danny Stutsman has been here before. He knows how it feels to be undefeated and heading into conference play with high hopes.

In 2022, Oklahoma began the season 3-0 under first-year head coach Brent Venables, only to lose seven of its next 10 games and finish 6-7 -- the team's first losing season in 23 years.

It's a place the standout middle linebacker doesn't want to revisit as the undefeated Sooners (3-0) prepare to open Big 12 Conference play Saturday against new member Cincinnati (2-1).

"We were kind of in the same situation last year," he said Tuesday after practice. "As for the older guys, we kind of know what it looks like. We kind of had those growing pains, and we don't want to repeat that.

"We kind of just told the young guys who haven't really experienced that what it looks like. At the end of the day, 3-0 doesn't mean anything. We're coming into this week 0-0, and that's the type of mentality we have to have."

Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman speaks with the media after practice Tuesday, Sept. 20.
Oklahoma linebacker Danny Stutsman speaks with the media after practice Tuesday, Sept. 20

Stutsman, who led the Big 12 with 9.6 tackles per game last season, has picked up where he left off, with 30 tackles through three games.

For his efforts in a 28-11 win over SMU on Sept. 9 -- 17 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a quarterback pressure -- Stutsman was named the Walter Camp national player of the week and the Big 12 Conference player of the week.

He followed up that performance with five tackles and and a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown against Tulsa in a 66-17 win.

"I have a long ways to go," he said. "We talk about it every single day, having a lot of meat left on the bone. I still have so much to grow as a player. I feel like I'm just barely scratching the surface right now."

Stutsman said the accolades don't affect his approach to the game of football.

"I mean really before there was any recognition, I wasn't really paying attention to it," he said. "I guess now that there is, it doesn't really change. The mindset every singe day is to just keep focusing on myself and keep focusing on this team."

As the unquestioned leader of the defense, Stutsman has taken it upon himself to keep his teammates, particularly the less experienced ones, focused on the task at hand.

His message to the defense this week was to stay hungry and never be satisfied, according to veteran defensive tackle Jonah Laulu.

"Like (defensive backs) coach (Jay) Valai says, he always says you gotta stay malnourished, starving everyday, coming into work to achieve because last week’s success does nothing coming into the next week," Laulu said after practice Tuesday. "It's not coming with you. Every day, every week, we’ve got to have that 1-0 mentality."

Redshirt sophomore cornerback Kani Walker said the biggest difference between last season's team after three games and this season's team is "competitive energy."

"Of course we go back and we remember stuff like that we were 3-0 this time last year and then we ended up losing to TCU," Walker said. "Now that we do have this opportunity, we do reflect on it. During the summer we reflected on like not being who we’re supposed to be.

"So on Monday we were kind of reminding ourselves ‘Look, we were 3-0 around this time last year, let’s not feel complacent, or none of that.’ That’s how I feel like we’re handling it — no complacency, no relaxing. And coach V’s not going to let us relax anyway, so it’s like all go, Monday to Saturday.”

Cornerback Woodi Washington, a redshirt senior, was among those who endured the roller coaster ride of 2022.

"We're OU, but we're not just going to go out and win every game just because we're OU," he said. "I take it as we've got to put in the work to go out and win games. I feel like last year we kind of got humbled a little bit. We went 6-7 obviously so it's like I said — we got humbled."

It's a place Stutsman doesn't want to revisit.

"If you don't say anything, then the same thing happens again," he said. "You don't want history to repeat itself." 

How to Watch Oklahoma vs. Cincinnati:

  • Location: Nippert Stadium — Cincinnati, OH
  • Date: Saturday, Sept. 23
  • Time: 11 a.m.
  • Channel: Fox
  • Broadcast Crew: Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
  • Radio Broadcast: 107.7 FM The Franchise
  • Weather Forecast: Sunny with a high of 83 degrees
Published
Tim Willert
TIM WILLERT

AllSooners staff writer Tim Willert has covered news and sports for 29 years as a reporter and editor for daily and online publications, including The Oklahoman and The Norman Transcript. 

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