After transfer portal saga, David Stone ready to take big step in Year 2

NORMAN — It was a whirlwind when David Stone entered the portal a few months ago.

Stone shockingly entered the portal back in April, shortly after the Sooners’ concluded spring practices. Fortunately for the Sooners, Stone withdrew from the portal and returned to the Sooners, announcing he was locked-in for his second season.

There was a lot of noise during those 48 hours. But the people he leaned on, and helped him return to Norman? His defensive tackles coach, Todd Bates, and former OU veteran Ethan Downs.

“I was able to sit down and talk with him, about his legacy and what it meant to him,” Stone said during Tuesday’s availability. “That played a big part and the reason why I decided to stay. Also, having my coach, Coach Bates is someone I constantly talked to throughout that whole process.

“It was necessary and I needed it. And having someone I really trust, in being able to help me and guide me on the path that I want in life, which is to play at the next level, is definitely beneficial for me.”

That decision to stay has paid off for Stone, and it’s transformed his habits on and off the field.

The former five-star prospect didn’t have a huge role as a true freshman, but he gained some valuable experience. He was one of only 12 OU defensive players to appear in every game last season, finishing with six tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in 94 snaps. But his teammates and coaches have noticed Stone’s increased intensity, both in the Sooners’ fall camp on the field and in his film study off the field.

Last month, Bates predicted a breakout season for Stone. That’s only been solidified through fall camp.”

“(He’s) been a model of consistency and the work he’s put in,” Stone said. “The work, it’ll show up and follow you like a shadow. Whatever you do or lack thereof, it’s gonna show… And he’s putting it in like a coach. Like, I bet right now, I’m doing this interview, he’s gonna be upstairs waiting on me in a second wanting to watch tape. Then they’ve got a 3:30 meeting to go to. So he doesn’t take that down time and go and take a nap like a regular player would.

“He wants to know right then, and he wants some feedback right then on, ‘Coach, what’d I do wrong? Did you see what I did right?’ He’s asking it. He’s really craving coaching and understanding that he’s actually the smartest player in the room.”

It’s not just talk with Stone and Bates. There’s a real need for Stone to play a huge role this fall. While Damonic Williams, Jayden Jackson and Grace Halton return to the defensive tackles room, the Sooners lost Da’Jon Terry, who logged over 300 snaps a season ago as the fourth player in the rotation. At minimum, Stone is expected to step into the two-deep rotation as a player who can log heavy snaps every game.

His teammates are definitely confident he’s up to the task.

“That man right there, most probably improved on the d-tackle group,” Jackson said of Stone. “He had a huge jump and the coaches have seen that. His grades — we do get graded (by the coaching staff) —have been phenomenal. Just a guy who wants it. Like this season he definitely wants it.

“I feel it, I see it. He’s in the film room with coach the most on the defensive tackle group.”

Stone credits Bates and veterans like Williams and Halton with keeping him motivated as he steps into a bigger role.

“Last year we had a leadership club and I got to sit in those meetings a little bit last year,” Stone said. “But this year was a big time for me to fully step up and be a big person for that d-tackle room and our defense. And so having Dam as the older brother and Gracen Halton, guys like that to lean on and get advice from and also be held accountable by those people is big for me. And they do it daily. They’re on me about everything.

“So they always tell me they see something in me that I don’t see in myself. So it’s just having an older brother there to keep you on track is definitely needed.”

There was a brief moment where it looked like Stone’s tenure in Norman would be short lived. But he’s not only back in the fold — he’s focused on making a big splash as a sophomore.

“Honestly the whole situation (with the portal), (there were) a lot of personal things going on,” Stone said. “I’m glad to be back. I’m focusing on the season.

“The offseason was a big time for me. I had a lot of things to improve on as far as my body, my technique, things like that. So we focused pretty hard on those things and man, it’s been paying off. I’ve been noticing a lot of things. Everyone has been saying the same thing. Big thing for me was the offseason and that transition time to now has been pretty big for me.”

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