Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Ranking the Top-5 Sooners of 2020 season

By John Makuch

Dec 19, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley lifts the Big 12 Championship trophy after the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley lifts the Big 12 Championship trophy after the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 5, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners fans during the game against the Baylor Bears at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners fans during the game against the Baylor Bears at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2020 Oklahoma football season landed on high ground after a rocky start and amid the unprecedented trials and tribulations of the past year.

Now it’s time to step back a reflect on some of the reasons for the Sooners gridiron success in this most unusual season. We have identified and ranked (in reverse order) the five Sooner players who we believe contributed the most to the Sooners’ success in the 2020 season.

No. 5 — DE Ronnie Perkins

Nov 7, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive end Ronnie Perkins (7) reacts during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive end Ronnie Perkins (7) reacts during the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Ronnie Perkins was an absolute game wrecker for the 2020 edition of the Oklahoma defense. In just six games he posted 5.5 sacks and his presence on the defensive line made him a player for which opposing offenses always had t0 account for.

Perkins filled the hole that the departure of Kenneth Murray left after the 2019 season. In a defense that has improved by leaps and bounds in two full seasons under defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, guys like Perkins are the dogs that you need to be able to unleash game after game.

The defense is getting better each year at Oklahoma, and with leaders like Murray and Perkins stepping up each year, the sky is the limit for where future defensive leaders can take this team. A year ago, college football experts were referring to the OU defense as “much improved.” After the season, that qualifier has been upgraded to “formidable.”

With Perkins departing for the NFL Draft, he will need to be replaced, but his impact will forever be felt, and Oklahoma football will have a top-25 defense yet again.

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