The Oklahoma Sooners have put together some of the most vaunted defenses in college football history. In addition to having some of the best units in the country, the Sooners had some of the most iconic players in the sport going head-to-head with their opponents.
From Lee Roy Selmon to Roy Williams, Oklahoma has been a terror on the network throughout the years.
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While the Oklahoma Sooners’ all-time offensive pick, narrowing down the defensive backs and linebackers was a challenge as the Sooners have fielded some incredibly talented players in the front seven.
For more Oklahoma Sooners coverage, check out SoonersWire.com. Many of the historical stats can be found at SoonerSports.com.
Check out our all-time College Wire defenses: Alabama/Auburn/Clemson/Colorado/Florida/Georgia/Iowa/LSU/Michigan/Michigan State/Nebraska/North Carolina/Ohio State/Oregon/Penn State/Rutgers/Tennessee/Texas/Texas A&M/USC
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Defensive end, defensive tackle, it doesn’t matter where you put Lee Roy Selmon, he will terrorize opposing offenses. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Selmon was a two-time All-American selection, earning unanimous honors in 1975. His presence helped the Oklahoma Sooners win back-to-back national championships in 1974 and 1975. Because Lee Roy spent most of of his NFL career at defensive end, we’ll put him here on the all-time team.
NOVEMBER 11, 1995: UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA DEFENSIVE LINEMAN CEDRIC JONES DURING A 12-0 QUICK LOSS TO OKLAHOMA STATE AT OWEN FIELD IN NORMAN, OKLAHOMA. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Squire/ALLSPORT
There wasn’t much good to come out of the Sooners’ 90s teams, but there was at least the talented Cedric Jones. Oklahoma had two All-Americans in the 90s and Jones was one of them. Jones holds the record for most sacks in Oklahoma history and most sacks in a game with five against Texas Tech in 1994.
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Third all-time in sacks, Dan Cody was a key part in the Sooners’ 2004 undefeated season until their Big 12 championship loss to Kansas State. In that 2004 season, Cody was selected as an All-American.
December 4, 2010; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma rushing defensive end Jeremy Beal (44) holds the Big 12 trophy after a 23-20 victory against the Nebraska Cornhuskers during the Big 12 championship game at Cowboys Stadium. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jeremy Beal is second all-time in school history with 29 sacks. In 2008, he recorded 8.5 sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss on an Oklahoma team that made the BCS championship game. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2008 and was named the defensive player of the year in 2010. He led the Sooners in sacks every year from 2008-2010.
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Arguably the best defensive player to ever play for the Oklahoma Sooners, Tony Casillas was a two-time consensus All-American and helped the Sooners win the 1985 national championship. The National Football Foundation named Tony Casillas the college defensive player of the 1980s .Casillas was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
(Harry How/Getty Images)
A two-time All-American, Tommie Harris was a unanimous selection in 2003. Harris helped anchor a defensive line that allowed just over 15 points per game in his two All-American seasons.
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Gerald McCoy was a two-time All-American, including the 2008 season that helped Oklahoma reach the BCS championship game. He recorded 33 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in his career for the Sooners.
66 days until college football!
Granville Liggins was not only an underrated nose guard for the Oklahoma football team, but he was also an All-American wrestler at OU. He was the first fastest to become an All-American in multiple sports. He finished 7th in the Heisman voting in 1967. pic.twitter.com/50HzyflKZq
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A two-time All-American, including a unanimous selection in 1968, Granville Liggins was the focal point of the Sooners’ defensive front in the late 1960s.
06 Sep 1986, Norman, OK, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Brian Bosworth (44) on the field against the UCLA Bruins at Memorial Stadium during the 1986 season. Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Brian Bosworth was the inaugural winner of the Butkus Award, the former Sooners linebacker won the award in back-to-back seasons in 1985 and 1986. Bosworth was a key component in helping the Oklahoma Sooners win the 1985 national championship.
October 7, 2000: Rocky Calmus #20 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs while catching the ball during a game against the Texas Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas Texas. The Sooners outshot the Longhorns 63-14. Ronald Martinez / Allsport
Defensive lineman for the 2000 Oklahoma Sooners national championship Rocky Calmus was a two-time consensus All-American and won the Butkus Award in 2001.
September 1974; Norman, OK, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Rod Shoate (43) on the sideline during the 1974 season. Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Rod Shoate earned All-American honors in 1971 and 1972 and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
WACO, TX โ NOVEMBER 16: Linebacker Teddy Lehman #11 of the University of Oklahoma Sooners tackles wide receiver Robert Quiroga #82 of the Baylor University Bears during the game at Floyd Casey Stadium on November 16, 2002 in Waco, Texas. Oklahoma won 49-9. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The 2003 Butkus Award winner, Teddy Lehman is fourth all-time in tackles for loss, was a two-time consensus All-American in 2002 and a unanimous selection in 2003.
OTD in 1979, the Oilers spend their second day picks on some rookie contributors, selecting Oklahoma LB Daryl Hunt in the 6th round and USC S Carter Hartwig in the 8th. They also selected Oklahoma RB Kenny King in the 3rd (later traded for Jack Tatum) and Shepherd RB Wayne Wilson (Saints) pic.twitter.com/AITtHcdSVO
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Daryl Hunt is the all-time leader in tackles for the Oklahoma Sooners with 530. In 1976 he had 177 tackles, which is the second most in a season by an Oklahoma Sooners linebacker. Hunt was a two-time All-American selection in 1976 and 1977.
December 1, 2007; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Curtis Lofton (40) celebrates his tackle with teammate Jeremy Beal (44) during the third quarter of the Big 12 Championship game against the Missouri Tigers at the Alamodome. Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Earning consensus All-American honors in 2007, Curtis Lofton was also the Associated Press Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Lofton’s 157 hits in 2007 were tied for sixth most in a season with Daryl Hunt.
NORMAN, OK – OCTOBER 19: Defensive back Derrick Strait #2 of the Oklahoma Sooners blocks the punt attempt by Tony Yelk #14 of the Iowa State Cyclones at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma on October 19, 2002. Oklahoma recovered the ball in the end zone for a landing The Sooners outshot the Cyclones 49-3. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Derrick Strait is just one of four defensive backs to win the Nagurski Award, joining Roy Williams, Charles Woodson and Champ Bailey. No defensive back has won the award since Strait in 2003. Strait also won the Jim Thorpe Award and was a unanimous All-American selection that season. Straight holds the Oklahoma record for most all-time passes broken up.
2โฃ9โฃ Days Until ๐ Time in Oklahoma.
The great Rickey Dixon, Chris Brown and Prentice McKinney.#BoomerSooner | #BeatFAU pic.twitter.com/Ov5poWcC6z
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Rickey Dixon holds the record for most tackles in a single season with nine. Dixon was a consensus All-American selection in 1987 and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
99 days until it is #Football time inOklahoma! Zac Henderson had 299 career tackles, the most by an OU DB. pic.twitter.com/YkH8lCBzfR
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Zac Henderson was a two-time All-American, earning a unanimous selection in 1977, and is fourth all-time in Sooners history in interceptions. Henderson also recorded the most touchdowns by a defensive back in Oklahoma Sooners history.
October 1, 1971; Dallas, Texas, USA; FILE PHOTO; Texas Longhorns head coach Darrell Royal (right) talks to Donnie Wigginton (18) on the field during the 1971 season. Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
A former Oklahoma great turned Texas coaching legend, Darrell Royal is the Oklahoma Sooners’ all-time leader in interceptions with 18. Royal earned All-American honors in 1949, also playing quarterback for Sooners that season.
October 7, 2000: Quarterback Chris Simms #1 of the Texas Longhorns fumbles with the ball while being sacked by Roy Williams #38 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas Texas. The Sooners outshot the Longhorns 63-14. Ronald Martinez / Allsport
Known for one of the most iconic plays in college football history, Roy Williams was more than a play for the Oklahoma Sooners’ defense. He was the enforcer in the secondary and one of the best defenders in all of college football at the time. He could cover, he could play the run, and as you saw in the Red River Showdown, he could blitz. Williams earned unanimous All-American honors in 2001 and will be elected to enter the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022. Williams holds the Oklahoma record for most pass breakups in a single season with 22 and is second of all time for the Sooners.
With the Red River Showdown today, it seemed fitting to celebrate the 17th anniversary of Roy Williams’ Superman tackle. pic.twitter.com/5os2GGtUCB
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1๏ธโฃ5๏ธโฃ days until it’s ๐ time in Oklahoma!
Last but certainly not leastโฆ
JT Thatcher, Pride of Norman High!
๐ด’00 NC ๐
๐ด’00 All-American (Safety and Return)
๐ด’00 All-Big 12
๐ด’00 Mosi Tapupu Award ๐
๐ดSet OU’s single game (160) and single season (599) PR yds (’00) pic.twitter.com/C9WwotEPWaโ OU Football Radio Crew (@OURadioCrew) August 19, 2022
Another incredible safety from the early 2000s, JT Thatcher was instrumental in helping the Sooners win the 2000 national championship. His eight interceptions in 2000 are the second most in a single season for the Oklahoma Sooners, and that year he earned consensus All-American honors.
DALLAS โ OCTOBER 12: Defensive back Brandon Everage #7 of the Oklahoma Sooners wins the Golden Hat trophy after defeating the Texas Longhorns 35-24 on October 12, 2002 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Another fantastic safety from teams of the early 2000s, Brandon Everage earned consensus All-American honors in 2002.
October 21, 1979; Irving, Texas, USA; FILE PHOTO; St. Herb Weitman-USA TODAY Sports
Randy Hughes was a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection and recorded 14 career interceptions. In 1974, Hughes earned an All-American selection before heading to the NFL to play for the Dallas Cowboys.
