UCLA Football Early 2018 Schedule Preview: Oklahoma Sooners

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Head Coach Lincoln Riley of the Oklahoma Sooners calls a play from the sidelines in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game against the Georgia Bulldogs at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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NORMAN, OK – NOVEMBER 11: Defensive tackle Du’Vonta Lampkin #57 of the Oklahoma Sooners celebrates a defensive stop against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated TCU 38-20. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /

Oklahoma Defense

In 2017, the Sooners allowed over 350 yards and 27 points per game. These numbers will look to improve in 2018 as the Sooners have departed with five defensive starters and returning defense loaded with talent.

OU’s biggest departures are D.J. Ward and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, the teams’ leading pass rushers. At 6-1, 240 lbs., defensive end/linebacker Mark Jackson is expected to take over for Okoronkwo as the Sooners’ top pass rusher and will be complimented by linebackers Kenneth Murray and Caleb Kelly.

Oklahoma 2017 Defensive Stats

Total Defense	Passing Defense	Rushing Defense	Scoring Defense
364.9 (4th)	238.4 (3rd)	156.5 (6th)	27.1 (5th)

( ) – denotes ranking in the Big XII

Defensive Coordinator Mike Stoops will also utilize his loaded roster of safeties and cornerbacks to keep opposing passing games at bay.

At this point of the season, Chip Kelly and UCLA’s offense will likely still be trying to find its starting quarterback and overall identity. If the Sooners are smart, they’ll play up to this uncertainty and force the Bruins to rely on its run game.