Venables on Damonic Williams: 'His mindset's completely changed'
NORMAN — Oklahoma’s interior defensive line projects to be one of the strongest position groups on the team, and arguably in the SEC. The Sooners’ defensive tackle spot was solid a season ago, and they return four of their top five players from that group this fall.
One of the players that’s risen above the rest? Damonic Williams.
The senior defensive tackle earned praise from head coach Brent Venables during Thursday’s annual Coaches Luncheon. While that group has a ton of production and continuity, Williams has emerged as a true leader for that group.
“(I) pointed him out several times in front of the team because he’s taken everything to another level from a leadership standpoint, the strain, changing his body,” Venables said. “He’s 320-plus pounds, and he’s moving very fast. Very explosive.
“His mindset’s completely changed.”
That’s huge news for the Sooners heading into this fall.
Williams was solid in 2024, his first season as a Sooner. The former TCU transfer started 12 games, finishing with 35 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack. But his production was on par with the stats he posted in 2023 at TCU, and while Williams was a fine contributor, he wasn’t the game-changer the Sooners were hoping to get.
But the potential has always been there with Williams, and his decision to return for his second season in Norman was a big one. In addition to Williams, the Sooners return senior Gracen Halton and sophomore Jayden Jackson, and that trio logged the most snaps on the interior last season. David Stone is also returning for his sophomore season, and he’s a prime candidate to have a breakout year in 2025.
But Williams has the most proven production and most experience on the interior. With the departures of Danny Stutsman, Billy Bowman and Ethan Downs, the Sooners really need a few veterans to emerge as leaders.
“Coach Venables talked about Dam Williams and the way he’s stepped up and not only changed his game, but really tapped into his energy and the things he would say to the group,” OU defensive tackles coach Todd Bates said. “That’s what we’re gonna need, because at some point in the season we’re gonna face adversity, and that’s when it’s gonna show us what we’re made of.”
If the Sooners are going to be successful this fall, and improve on last year’s disappointing 6-7 campaign, they can’t afford to take a step back defensively. The Sooners ranked in the top 30 nationally in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense, and a big reason for that was the interior of the defensive line.
If Damonic Willians can step up, that should be a big boost to the defense as a whole.
“We have a lot of guys that bring it at practice,” Venables said. “They love to compete. They’ve got a humility to them, let you coach them hard. But I do feel like Danny was that alpha and Billy was kind of a quiet assassin. He demanded excellence from everyone on and off the field.
“I feel collectively at all three levels, it’s not just one guy. It’s a collective effort. I like how that’s spread out amongst the entire defense, but I think we have a chance to have a premiere player at all three levels of the defense.”
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