Oklahoma football: Sooners adds huge Tennessee defensive line transfer

Oklahoma football head coach Brent Venables’ outstanding defensive units at Clemson began with size, strength and elite talent on the defensive line. That’s precisely what he wants to do at OU.

He has been stocking up at the position bringing in young players with talent and high development ceilings through traditional recruiting channels as well as players with experience who can have an immediate impact through the transfer portal.

The latest of those additions is former Tennessee defensive lineman Da’Jon Terry, who entered the transfer portal on May 26 and announced his commitment destination on Friday, deciding to play for Venables at Oklahoma.

The 6-foot, 4-inch, 321-pound D-lineman was originally recruited by Kansas in the class of 2019. He played two seasons at Kansas before transferring to Tennessee, where he played the past two seasons. He will have one year of eligibility remaining at OU.

Terry recorded 35 tackles, two tackles for loss and three sacks in 33 games for Tennessee the past two seasons. He started the fifth game of the 2022 season against LSU and remained there through the remainder of the season.

Terry is the 16th player to join the Sooners for the coming season via the transfer portal, and five are defensive lineman. He joins fellow transfers Rondell Bothroyd (Wake Forest), Davon Sears (Texas State), Trace Ford (from Oklahoma State) and Jacob Lacey (from Notre Dame).

Oklahoma’s top-four-ranked 2023 recruiting class includes five defensive linemen, including five-star prospect P.J. Adebawore. Sixteen of the 26 recruits in the Sooners 2023 class play on the defensive side of the football, which reflects the renewed emphasis OU has placed on defense since Venables became head coach.