Crimson countdown: No. 13 Shane Whitter
The Crimson Countdown is officially on for the 2023 Oklahoma football season. It’s the second season under head coach Brent Venables and expectations are high once again. The Sooners are looking to rebound from the uncharacteristic 6-7 season in 2022.
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Crimson Countdown: No. 13 Shane Whitter
2022 stats: Nine tackles before a season-ending injury.
2023 outlook:
Whitter is someone who flashed a bit in his first couple of seasons at OU. Nobody really knows how 2022 was going to go as his season was cut short. A shoulder injury kept him out of the second half of the season, but it carried over.
Whitter wasn’t allowed to be himself in the spring, either. It has definitely been a long road back for someone who showed great speed for a linebacker in the open field.
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He hasn’t been limited in preseason camp, which is obviously a plus. But there hasn’t been a lot of chatter about him, either, as he works back into the thick of things.
There’s being in shape, understanding the defense and being mentally/physically healthy. It’s never all been there for Whitter, but perhaps it can work toward that direction in 2023.
2023 inside linebacker outlook
Oklahoma isn’t lacking talent at inside linebacker. But it does lack experience. Junior Danny Stutsman returns as last year’s starter at WILL linebacker, while redshirt freshman Kobie McKenzie and sophomore Jaren Kanak battle for the MIKE spot. Sophomore Kip Lewis could also be a contributor after an impressive spring. And the Sooners added a linebacker in the transfer portal in Ferris State’s Konnor Near. This group has a lot to prove in 2023 – especially Stutsman – but it does appear to have the talent and depth to find success.
