Billy Bowman, Danny Stutsman the pillars of OU Team 130

OU fans waiting on pins and needles might finally be able to relax, if only for a minute. The Sooners future, especially on defense, looks like it is in very good hands.

Linebacker Danny Stutsman announced Monday he is returning for the 2024 season. Safety Billy Bowman had beaten him to the punch, making the call Friday night.

The two anchors of Team 130 are firmly in place.

“I love putting puzzles, the pieces of the puzzle, together,” said head coach Brent Venables last week. “I’ve always really enjoyed that. Try to find great people. That’s exciting to me. I’ve got amazing appreciation, thankfulness and respect for what it means to be the head football coach at the University of Oklahoma and the excellence it’s represented for over a hundred years.

“Every decision I make, when it comes to our current roster, potentially a new player that we’re going to bring into our program, I know everybody’s counting on me to make a right decision. I love that, love relationships. I love finding great people that also align in the values and the respect and appreciation for all the great things that Oklahoma has to offer.”

Here is a look at some of the biggest announcements in the last week for OU.

Staying for 2024

S Billy Bowman

The story: Whew, that was a sigh of relief for OU fans. Bowman was so good, especially late in the season, that you could have seen him leaving for the NFL Draft. Instead, Bowman said he is ready for one more season, and OU’s first season in the SEC. A breakout playmaker, Bowman had six interceptions and four pass breakups. And, of course, returned three of those picks for touchdowns, including one in each of the final two OU victories.

LB Danny Stutsman

The story: Will he? Or will he not? It has been a roller coaster with Stutsman, trying to figure out what he wants to do. His heart, though? It’s still in Norman, still with the Sooners. OU was even recruiting linebackers in the transfer portal last weekend. That’s how quickly things can change. Stutsman back in the fold is arguably better than any incoming transfer. He was one of the best linebackers in the country in 2023. He will be again, no question, in 2024.

NFL Draft

C Andrew Raym

The story: You just wonder if there was anything else for Raym to do at OU that could have improved his NFL Draft stock? He’s close to a finished product and has a lot of wear and tear on him from being such an integral part of the program since being a freshman. It wasn’t a surprise, clearly, and it’ll be interesting to see where Raym goes from here and OU. Is it time for Troy Everett to take over and be the man in the middle? Raym is already in full preparation for that next step.

OT Tyler Guyton

The story: Nobody really made any sort of celebration when Guyton picked OU following the 2021 season. Not sure anybody had any idea of what type of player he would turn into. Preseason expectations were high, and Guyton lived up to the billing. He’s getting that first-round grade where everybody agrees that if that’s the reading, you better jump. His athletic ability should make him one to watch through the Combine process.

Transfer portal

QB Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)

The story: Say what? No, no OU fan is surprised Gabriel won’t be with the team in 2024. That seemed to be clear from all parties involved during this season. But the prevailing thought was Gabriel would take to the NFL Draft. It’s a new world, though. Gabriel stands to make some serious $$$ in the NIL department as he heads to Oregon. OU fans won’t forget what he did for this program the last two years. It could have been awful very quickly. Gabriel helped steady that ship.

TBD

CB Woodi Washington

The story: If you had to circle one more name, it’s Washington. OU has already added a cornerback from the transfer portal in former San Diego State defensive back Dez Malone. Was that a sign? Or just the Sooners trying to add more depth? Washington put up solid numbers, but his impact was felt more from a leadership standpoint. Both with the team and within the young cornerback group. He has the option to return to OU for a sixth year.