- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,192,533
- Reaction score
- 59
Oklahoma Sooners star linebacker Kip Lewis has played a key role in the defensive changes under Brent Venables. Venables was hired before the 2022 season, taking over a program that had been one of the worst defensive programs in college football for about a decade. Lewis was part of that initial signing class for Venables.
He played a small role as a freshman, racking up only two tackles. He broke out as a redshirt freshman in 2023, alongside Danny Stutsman. He finished with 66 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and one sack that season. His best season was last year, as he tallied 76 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks.
While his on-field production has been great, he's also been one of Oklahoma's emotional leaders. In an interview, Lewis detailed his leadership.
"I don't even realize that I do it," Lewis said on the 'Sooner Smiths Live' podcast. "... But no, I mean it's just mostly kind of everything on game day is just like raw, like raw, like pure, genuine, like energy as much as I can. Trying to help the team win... I try to create as much synergy as I can."
Lewis' energy has become a visible part of Oklahoma's defensive identity. His vocal presence and sideline intensity have helped set a tone for the unit on game days.
It was also big given the leadership transition after Stutsman departed for the NFL following the 2024 season. Stutsman had been the emotional anchor of the defense, and questions remained about who would assume that role.
Lewis has stepped into that responsibility and emerged as one of the central leaders of the Sooners' defense.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @Jaron Spor.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Kip Lewis on being the Oklahoma Sooners emotional leader
Continue reading...
He played a small role as a freshman, racking up only two tackles. He broke out as a redshirt freshman in 2023, alongside Danny Stutsman. He finished with 66 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and one sack that season. His best season was last year, as he tallied 76 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks.
While his on-field production has been great, he's also been one of Oklahoma's emotional leaders. In an interview, Lewis detailed his leadership.
"I don't even realize that I do it," Lewis said on the 'Sooner Smiths Live' podcast. "... But no, I mean it's just mostly kind of everything on game day is just like raw, like raw, like pure, genuine, like energy as much as I can. Trying to help the team win... I try to create as much synergy as I can."
Lewis' energy has become a visible part of Oklahoma's defensive identity. His vocal presence and sideline intensity have helped set a tone for the unit on game days.
It was also big given the leadership transition after Stutsman departed for the NFL following the 2024 season. Stutsman had been the emotional anchor of the defense, and questions remained about who would assume that role.
Lewis has stepped into that responsibility and emerged as one of the central leaders of the Sooners' defense.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @Jaron Spor.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Kip Lewis on being the Oklahoma Sooners emotional leader
Continue reading...
