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Why Oklahoma DL Target Danny Okoye is Excited to Play in the SEC

One of the top players in the state of Oklahoma went on the radio Saturday evening to discuss one of the important aspects of his recruitment.

Randall Sweet

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NORMAN – On Saturday, 4-star defensive lineman Danny Okoye joined KREF Sports Talk 1400 for a postgame show following Oklahoma’s blowout victory over Tulsa.

In an interview on the radio station, Okoye discussed his recruitment and why he is looking forward to being able to play in the SEC. The senior edge rusher from Tulsa NOAH (OK) hasn’t announced his commitment yet, but will decide between Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas on Wednesday in Bixby, OK.

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“The SEC is the more violent conference, and I like violence, so it's for me,” Okoye said.

This sentiment aligns perfectly with the mindset needed to compete in the trenches against programs like Alabama and Georgia. As the Sooners transition into the SEC, they will need athletic playmakers with the same mentality along the defensive line in order to hold up with some of the top teams in the nation.

When asked if playing in the SEC factored into his decision, Okoye did not hesitate to answer.

“It definitely plays a part,” he said. “My style of play, I feel, is more aggressive.”

Rated one of the top 66 players and top eight edge rushers in the nation, according to On3, Okoye would be a huge boost to the Sooners' 2024 class. Listed at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Okoye could be a force off the edge, especially after spending time with strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt.

If he were to commit to Oklahoma, Okoye would join 5-star David Stone, 4-star Nigel Smith II, 4-star Jayden Jackson and 4-star Wyatt Gilmore in OU’s 2024 defensive line class. 

"I was definitely impressed," Okoye said when asked about Oklahoma's defensive performance against Tulsa. "I definitely liked what I saw, so, all I can say is Boomer Sooner."

Okoye was in Norman for the Sooners' season opener against Arkansas State on Sept. 2 for his official visit. Since then, the talented edge rusher said that he enjoyed his time on campus and that he has a good relationship with the coaching staff.

"I like the vibes," Okoye said. "Being around coach (Miguel) Chavis, coach (Todd) Bates, coach (Brent) Venables, all those guys. They always come with a different kind of energy, and I definitely see it changing the way that OU football is being played."

With Okoye set to announce his pledge later this week, it seems that Oklahoma is the clear favorite to land the 4-star pass rusher. Okoye would mark the Sooners' 24th scholarship commitment in the 2024 class if he does indeed pick OU on Wednesday.

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Randall Sweet
RANDALL SWEET

Randall is a recruiting analyst and staff writer at AllSooners focusing primarily on OU Football and the recruiting trail. Working as a journalist, Randall has covered the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and high school sports across the state. A 2022 University of Oklahoma graduate, Randall hails from Lubbock, TX. While in college, Sweet wrote for the OU Daily in addition to working with Sooner Sports Pad and OU Nightly. Following his time at OU, Sweet served as the Communications Coordinator at Visit Oklahoma City before leaving to join the team at AllSooners. The West Texas native has bylines in the Norman Transcript and is a Staff Writer for Inside the Thunder. Randall holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. 

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