After a lot of confusion and anticipation, we finally know where R Mason Thomas will be playing football next season.
Thomas confirmed via social media on Monday that he will return to Oklahoma next season instead of entering the NFL Draft.
There was a lot of confusion from Sooner Nation up to this point about Thomas' decision. 1Oklahoma, OU's NIL collective, posted on X before the Armed Forces Bowl that Thomas was returning, but then the post was quickly deleted. It was up long enough, though, that several outlets reported that Thomas was returning to OU.
Thomas was then asked about his future plans after that situation and said he was still weighing his options.
"I thought about it a little bit, but I'm still in deep thought about it," Thomas told media then. "Talking to my family about it. I don't know. I'm not even sure, like, when the last date to do whatever that is. But I'm still in deep thought about it."
Then on Friday, Thomas had a post with a highlight video and Grease reference that didn't necessarily announce anything and confused Sooner Nation even more. But now after all that, we know Mason will for sure be a Sooner in 2025.
Thomas' return is huge for Brent Venables & Co. Thomas had a breakout junior season at defensive end, recording 23 tackles, nine sacks and a forced fumble. All were career highs after not much production his first two seasons.
The Sooners will be pretty loaded on the edge now. Thomas will obviously assume his starting role on one edge, but OU also got a commitment on Sunday from Florida State and Georgia transfer Marvin Jones Jr., who will likely start on the other side.
OU also has a lot of young talent at the position, as well, to provide depth or even compete for a starting job. Other notable defensive ends returning include PJ Adebawore, Danny Okoye and Taylor Wein. The Sooners lost one starting defensive end from this season in Ethan Downs, who exhausted his eligibility.