Oklahoma Football: DaShaun White silencing the critics

When the Oklahoma football defense plays bad on a week-to-week basis, it starts with the leader. DaShaun White has been the anchor for a defense that has some youngsters, and some transfer portal guys.

The fifth year linebacker has come into his own the past few weeks and has been a big part of the defense success in recent games. White is third on the team in tackles with 49, has one sack, and one interception to his name. The criticism started with his lack of play in the Kansas State loss, and both the TCU and Texas meltdowns.

Go ahead and toss that to the side, White is showing his experience and his leadership on defense.

The veteran has led the Sooners in tackles in the last two victories over Kansas and Iowa State. White disrupted the Iowa State running game, tallying a team high 14 tackles, and 1.5 tackles for loss in the win. In the three OU losses, White had a total of 11 tackles. It’s evident to say White is playing much better football at a critical time for Oklahoma.

“I feel really confident right now,” White said. “I’m really comfortable just knowing where I’m supposed to be at, knowing where everybody else is at around me. And then just knowing what offenses are trying to do against us and [the] different sort of looks. I’ve really been taking my film study personally this year… That’s something that’s built throughout the year.”

It was a struggle early on for White, adjusting to the cheetah position, a position that White isn’t use to. White has played inside linebacker, and some outside linebacker during his time at Oklahoma, but it’s been mainly the cheetah position. The cheetah includes both linebacker and defensive back, so it’s designed for a linebacker to cover more on the field. Despite the position change and taking time to adjust to it, the senior is playing more confident.

Head Coach Brent Venables has been impressed with the play of DaShaun White and the progress he has made

“I think he’s put a lot more time into studying the game on his own, with his teammates,” Venables said. “Really understanding intimately, trying to have a grasp of the game plan like the coordinator is calling it. Understanding not just the what, but the how and the why and the when. So there’s a maturation from a football intelligence standpoint. But he’s put a lot of hard work in it. Taking great notes every day. He’s applying the knowledge that he’s been given to game day and not trying to do too much.”

Give credit, when credit is due. White has silenced the criticism for his lack of play and leading the Sooners defense in a big way. White and the Sooners hope to build momentum and keep gaining confidence on defense.