Oklahoma Linebacker Using Defensive Shakeup to Become Better Leader

The linebacker position and the defense as a whole will look much different in Kobie McKinzie s fourth year in Norman.

McKinzie, a redshirt junior middle linebacker from Lubbock, TX, is slated to start at the position alongside Kip Lewis.

In 2024, McKinzie played in all 13 games, logging 30 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss and a pass deflection.

Between coach Brent Venables now serving as OUs defensive coordinator and new linebacker coaches Nate Dreiling and Wes Goodwin , McKinzie and his fellow linebackers will receive plenty of coaching.

And McKinzie thinks thats best for the unit.

Its a lot of competitiveness out there, a lot of excitement, McKinzie said at one of the Sooners spring practices.

Its been really fun.

Venables, entering his fourth year as OUs head coach, has plenty of experience leading elite defenses.

He served as Clemsons defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2012 to 2021, helping the Tigers win two national championships.

Venables won the Broyles Award, given to college footballs best assistant coach, in 2016.

Venables will run the defense after 2024 defensive coordinator Zac Alley spent just one season in Norman, departing in favor of West Virginia after the season.

Before that, Ted Roof was Oklahomas defensive coordinator in Venables first two years at the school.

Most of McKinzies hands-on coaching will come from Dreiling, who primarily coaches OUs inside linebackers, while Goodwin will lead the outside linebackers.

Dreiling joined OUs staff in February after spending the 2024 season as Utah States defensive coordinator.

McKinzie noted that Dreiling and Venables coach with very different styles but their instruction is equally valuable.

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Its just been very unique to hear (Dreilings) take on a lot of things and how to attack certain things.

If you want to win, why not play for the guy whos won the national championships coaching the defense? The differing methods of instruction have allowed McKinzie to become even more of a leader.

McKinzie and fellow redshirt junior Kip Lewis have played at OU longer than any of the Sooners other linebackers.

Those two will try to mimic the leadership of four-year linebacker Danny Stutsman , who graduated in 2024 and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Stutsman compiled 376 tackles throughout his four seasons in Norman, earning consensus All-American honors as a senior.

Though being an upperclassman is new for McKinzie, he doesnt consider his leadership position new.

Itd be really remiss of me to say Im just now all of a sudden doing this, and this is who Im going to be all of a sudden because hes no longer here, McKinzie said.

Ive been Kobie since I got on campus, and Ive always been a leadership guy.

Others on the Sooners linebacker corps include Sammy Omosigho , Kendal Daniels , Kendel Dolby , James Nesta and Taylor Heim .

McKinzie described his leadership style as aggressive and its that way for a reason.

The linebacker wants to be a driving force in making the Sooners a defensive juggernaut.

I want, when people come back to this place, they fear playing us not that its just fun, McKinzie said.

Thats what my dream is for the defense and for this university..

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