Da'Jon Terry to return to OU for final season
OU defensive tackle Da’Jon Terry is returning to Norman for his final season, he announced on Twitter Thursday.
Terry, who transferred to Oklahoma from Tennessee last year, was one of the Sooners’ most pivotal pieces on defense this past season. He totaled 17 tackles and one sack and became arguably OU’s best interior defensive lineman down the stretch of the season.
Terry returning is big news for the Sooners for several reasons. The main being that he is one of the most experienced players on the roster. He began his career at Kansas, playing two seasons for the Jayhawks. He then transferred to Tennessee, where he made seven starts and totaled 35 tackles and three tackles for loss. This last season was his first in Norman where he played 291 snaps, the third most among Sooner interior defensive linemen. He also made four starts.
His experience will be valuable for a defensive line that will feature several young players, including highly-touted incoming freshmen David Stone, Nigel Smith and Jayden Jackson. The defensive line room loses several key players, including seniors Jordan Kelley and Isaiah Coe. Now, OU hopes to also bring back Jacob Lacey, who also has another year of eligibility after transferring to Oklahoma from Notre Dame. Lacey played the most snaps of any defensive lineman this season with 363.
Terry isn’t the only veteran player to announce his decision to return. OU also got commitments from safety Billy Bowman and Danny Stutsman in the past week. With Terry now also in the fold, OU could have one of the more talented and experienced defenses in the country.
The Sooners are still expected to be busy in the transfer portal market along the defensive line. While the hope is guys like Stone, Smith and Jackson can contribute, OU needs depth and experience still.
