OU's Linebacker Corps Deep, Dangerous

Originally Published: Aug 6, 2010 3:32 PM CDT

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Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma – Despite losing experienced starters Ryan Reynolds and Keenan Clayton to graduation, OU’s group of linebackers this year may be one of the most talented in recent memory.

Headlining the new group of linebackers will be Ronnell Lewis, who head coach Bob Stoops and defensive coordinator Brent Venables have raved about since he stepped foot on campus. Playing predominantly on special teams last season, Lewis recorded 22 tackles and impressed coaches and teammates alike with his speed and tenacity.

“I told the freshmen, ‘You’re in for a treat.’ He’s the most violent hitter I’ve been around,” Venables said. “I haven’t been all over the place, but I’ve been here and we’ve had some good players and he’s as violent as they come. He loves to play and loves to be coached. He’s a very hungry, humble young guy that has a respect for the game and the process.”

Venables said Lewis will be used as a blitzing threat off the edge and in certain situations will even be moved to defensive end. The coaching staff wants to make sure Lewis gets on the field as much as possible.

“I haven’t seen many guys that look like Ronnell,” senior safety Quinton Carter said. “We were joking around earlier that watching him line up at D-end kind of looks like a bear down there. We ask some of the running backs, ‘If you get a call to run to his side, what are you thinking? What’s going through your head?’”

Joining Lewis will be redshirt freshman Tom Wort, who impressed coaches last year before tearing his ACL and being forced to sit out the entire season. Wort will be part of a rotation at middle linebacker with junior Austin Box.

“[Wort] looked a lot sharper yesterday than he did at the end of the spring,” Venables said. “In the spring, his knee fortunately was never an issue, but he was just knocking off the rust in technique and fundamentals. I was extremely impressed with him yesterday; he looked very clean in what he was doing.”

Venables added that the Sooners have a history of plugging new linebackers into his defensive system and not missing a beat.

“The message to the guys is that [the system] really works, regardless of who comes in,” Venables said. “When you leave, the next guy comes in. I tell them all the time we could get a circus monkey, plug him in there and he’d have 100 tackles and five sacks. I say that in jest, but it really is a system that over times has really proven itself.”

The departure of Ryan Reynolds left the Sooners with a void not only on the field, but as an emotional leader in the locker room. Travis Lewis has since taken over that role.

“Ryan was such a cornerstone in our group and on our defense and just such a strong leader,” Venables said. “He was a young man of very few words, but he had a strong presence to him and I think Travis has this undeniable respect for Ryan and the way he led. He now feels a sense of it’s his time to step up in a mature way and lead by example.”

Travis Lewis led OU in tackles in each of the last two years, recording more than 100 tackles in both seasons. No other Sooner had more than 90 tackles in either of those years.

“He is the heart and soul of our group,” Venables said. “He sets the tempo. I love his attitude; he’s very mature and comes with the right approach every day. Great attitude, great leader helping the young guys and very tough.”