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Oklahoma football: Another Sooner opts out of 2020 season

By Chip Rouse

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Bryan Mead #38 congratulates Jalen Redmond #31 of the Oklahoma Sooners after his sack of Dorian Thompson-Robinson #1 of the UCLA Bruins during the first half of a game on at the Rose Bowl on September 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 14: Bryan Mead #38 congratulates Jalen Redmond #31 of the Oklahoma Sooners after his sack of Dorian Thompson-Robinson #1 of the UCLA Bruins during the first half of a game on at the Rose Bowl on September 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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The Oklahoma football defense took a hit it didn’t need over the weekend when defensive tackle Jalen Redmond opted out of the 2020 season.

The redshirt-sophomore defensive lineman reportedly finalized his decision after a conversation with head coach Lincoln Riley.

Redmond, out of nearby Midwest City, Oklahoma,  played in 13 of Oklahoma’s 14 games last season, starting in four, and led the team with 6.5 quarterback sacks. He also was credited with 11 tackles for loss, which ranked third on the Sooners’ defensive unit.

Redmond missed all but three games in the 2018 series because of an issue with blood clots.

The Sooners’ have depth on the defensive line, but will be missing their two best past rushers for at least half of the season. Defensive end Ronnie Perkins registered six sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss a year ago, but he will miss at least four games to start the season because of a suspension that carries over from last season.

Redmond, along with running back Rhamondre Stevenson and wide receiver Trejan Bridges received NCAA suspensions just ahead of OU’s College Football Playoff game with LSU after testing positive for marijuana use.

Redmond is the second major Oklahoma player to opt out this season. Running back Kennedy Brooks, the Sooners’ leading returner rusher, announced last month that he would not play this fall, which probably will end his OU career, given that he is NFL Draft eligible.

With Redmond out for the full fall season and Perkins missing at least four games, LaRon Stokes, and Isaiah Thomas will be expected to pick up the slack alongside junior-college transfer Perrion Winfrey, while Marcus Stripling fills in at defensive end. Josh Ellison and Jordan Kelley will also challenging for playing time.

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