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Oklahoma football: Ranking the 10 most important Sooners for 2021

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 23: Safety Pat Fields #10, and offensive lineman Marcus Alexander #74 of the Oklahoma Sooners run onto the field for a game against the TCU Horned Frogs on November 23, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 28-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 23: Safety Pat Fields #10, and offensive lineman Marcus Alexander #74 of the Oklahoma Sooners run onto the field for a game against the TCU Horned Frogs on November 23, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 28-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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Nov 21, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Nik Bonitto (11) reacts at the end of the first half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Nik Bonitto (11) reacts at the end of the first half against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4 — Senior linebacker Nik Bonitto

There is no player more important on the OU defense this season than junior linebacker Nik Bonitto. The junior from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, was a major disruptive force last season, recording 32 tackles, 8.0 sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 10 quarterback hurries.

According to analytics provided by Pro Football Focus, Bonitto was No. 1 in the country with a pressure rate of 25.7 percent. No other player was better than 22.3 percent in that statistical category. He also finished in the top five in pass-rush grade and pass-rush win rate.

The Oklahoman newspaper wrote this about Bonitto:

"“The steady growth of OU’s defense since Alex Grinch’s arrival as defensive coordinator is reflected in Bonitto, who went from a highly recruited prospect who redshirted in 2018 to an improving but raw regular in 2019 to one of college football’s breakout defensive stars last season.”"

Bonitto is the heart and soul of the OU defense, and the Sooners need a big-time performance from him in the 2021 season.

The Sooner defensive leader is on the preseason watch list for several national awards and has been named to eight preseason All-America teams..

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