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OU (finally) forces first takeaway, R Mason Thomas, Gracen Halton combine for TD

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo10/04/25BPrzybylo
Gracen Halton10
OU defensive tackle Gracen Halton. (Bryan Terry - Imagn Images)

As dominant as the OU defense has been, the one glaring spot for improvement? Takeaways. Literally any improvement would be appreciated.

OU was the lone program in the country entering October without having forced a turnover. That all changed Saturday afternoon against visiting Kent State.

Defensive end R Mason Thomas with the sack, causing a fumble, recovered by Gracen Halton, who took it in for the touchdown after a 4-yard return to give OU a 30-0 lead in the third quarter.

Finally.

“The stove is hot,” said head coach Brent Venables earlier this week. “We’re going to continue to emphasize turnovers. Started yesterday’s team meeting with a turnover presentation. Coach Valai did. Did a great job teaching the offense what the defense is being taught. A lot of great video examples, both in college and the NFL, what it looks like, how we teach it, what our drills look like. 

“And we start practice every day with a really cool turnover circuit that it’ll pay dividends. We gotta do a better job of being more purposeful in practice. All those good on good reps. And I don’t want to be that team that’s over there trying to rip at the ball and nobody’s tackling the ball carrier, either. That’s bad football. But at the same time, man, we need to create turnovers.

“We got some work to do. You want to be one of those teams. You need to be. Can’t be last in the country.”

It’s one reason why the 4-0 start was so impressive for OU. Not takeaways and six giveaways, a minus-six in that department.

Venables knows that has to change. Maybe the Golden Flashes contest will be the start of that for OU.

“So we gotta quit giving the ball back,” Venables said. “We’ve had six turnovers on offense. Gotta quit giving it back on offense, and we gotta go get it on defense. And so hopefully we can get that turned around sooner rather than later.”

Editor’s note: SoonerScoop will have full coverage of OU-Kent State, following the game’s conclusion.

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