Dasan McCullough says Oklahoma defense is 'one of none'

Oklahoma Sooners sophomore defensive lineman/ outside linebacker Dasan McCullough is liking what he’s seeing out of the defense during spring practice. And what he sees out of the defense since arriving on campus during the offseason makes him believe they are destined for great things in 2023. After the Sooners’ 2023 spring game, McCullough made a bold statement about Oklahoma’s defensive unit, proclaiming them to be, ‘one of none.’

“Yeah, I feel like, as a group, this defense is one of none. So, I mean, we have guys at every position. We have depth too. So, I think we’re gonna make a great run,” said McCullough.

McCullough committed to Oklahoma after an impressive freshman year with the Indiana Hoosiers. The Sooner’s transfer portal acquisition had a huge season with the Hoosiers recording 49 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 4.0 sacks. McCullough played high school football at Bloomington South (Ind.) High School, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 97 overall recruit in the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Venables pushing McCullough to be a leader on defense

McCullough believes the Sooner’s defense has the talent and capability to be one of the best defenses in the Big 12 and possibly all of college football next season. And the sophomore also has aspirations of being a leader of that unit both on and off the field; something that head coach Brent Venables is pushing his young defensive star to achieve. Venables wants McCullough to be a leader on the defense and is going out of his way to connect and work with the young difference-maker.

“Since I’ve been here coach Venables has made it clear he wants me to be a leader,” McCullough said recently. “Just having him right by my side, just helping me out with all these little things, made me the best linebacker I could be. You can’t ask for anymore. It’s great.”

McCullough arrived in Oklahoma from Indiana, where he was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection as a true freshman last fall.

After Oklahoma’s spring game this past weekend, Venables mentioned how happy he was with how the transfers were growing in the team’s system.

“There’s a lot still in front of us, but even prior to today I’ve been incredibly pleased with the work, the buy-in, the humility, the competitiveness and the play,” Venables said. “It certainly hasn’t been perfect with any of ’em, but there’s signs that we’re moving in the right direction. Bringing those guys in are making everyone around them better. Certainly they’re gonna be able to help us.”