Oklahoma football: Which Sooners are ready to breakout on defense?

Brendan Radley-Hiles, defensive back

This one is a bit of a cheat because Radley-Hiles was a starter as a true freshman, but there were a lot of circumstances where the five-star defensive back wasn’t put in a position to succeed. The smaller-statured Radley-Hiles was often lined up at a hybrid saftey-nickel position and asked to come downhill and attack in the running game as well as cover the back end as a safety. Here’s hoping Alex Grinch and his staff find a way to simplify the game for “Bookie” and allow him to showcase the skills that made him the scourge of high school wideouts just a couple years ago.

Neville Gallimore defensive lineman

Yes, this one is even cheaper than Radley-Hiles as Gallimore is entering his fourth season with the Sooners, but watching his offseason workout routine, Gallimore looks like he might finally be ready to become the monstrous force the Sooners have been lacking up front since Gerald McCoy. Gallimore will get to do something every defensive lineman truly wants to do from day one, penetrate and get upfield. He’ll be tasked with getting into a gap, beating a blocker and finding the football. This simplified, singular purpose, along with a full offseason of strength and conditioning work, could be enough to finally push this high-upside defensive lineman to the next level as an all-conference (dare we say All American) level.