Oklahoma football: Who are Sooners’ 10 best players at midpoint of 2023 season?
By Chip Rouse
![Sep 1, 2019; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cheerleaders hold up megaphones during the game against the Houston Cougars at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Sep 1, 2019; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cheerleaders hold up megaphones during the game against the Houston Cougars at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b76e07427f6e05bb0eb25905376bce313ace3ea903b5957b62e4eb97a832e0c7.jpg)
9. Junior defensive end Ethan Downs
One of the big reasons for Oklahoma’s vast improvement on defense has been the play of the defensive line, and Ethan Downs has been a giant contributor. Downs has started all six games this season and been on the field for 233 snaps. He has 17 total tackles and leads the team with 3.5 sacks, two of which came in OU’s five-sack game against Texas, which was Downs’ best game of the season. For the season, he has recorded five tackles for loss for 24 yards.