The Oklahoman

A look at Oklahoma's defensive line,

- Joe Mussatto, Staff writer

NORMAN — Neville Gal limo re was the top pass rusher in the Big 12 last season, according to Pro Football Focus analytics. His pass-rush win rate was 11.8 percent.

Gallimore will be the central force on Oklahoma' s defensive line. Here's the outlook, both for this season and beyond, at the position group.

Starters

Neville Gallimore (Sr., 6-2, 301)

Dillon Faamatau (Sr., 6-3, 290)

Ronnie Perkins (So., 6-3, 248)

Key backups

Kenneth Mann (Sr., 6-3, 269)

Marquise Overton (Sr., 6-1, 304)

LaRon Stokes (Jr., 6-4, 256) Isaiah Thomas (So., 6-5, 256)

Jalen Redmond (RFr., 6-3, 264)

Marcus Stripling (Fr., 6-3, 257)

Scouting ahead

This season: Oklahoma's defensive line is a veteran group. As many as four

seniors could be part of the rotation. Gallimore is widely regarded as OU's best defensive player. Faamatau started two games last season and has appeared in 28 games over the last two years. Perkins is OU's top defensive end. Mann started 13 games last season and was a defensive captain. It's not clear where he'll fit in Alex

Grinch's new scheme, but he and Overton are reliable options.

The future: Perkins, Redmond and Thomas represent the present and future. Grinch singled out freshman Marcus Stripling as a player with a “very, very high” ceiling. Stripling was a four-star signee in the 2019 class. Oklahoma has one defensive line commitment in the 2020 class: junior college defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey. Winfrey, from Iowa Western Community College, also holds offers from Texas, Alabama, LSU and Penn State among many others.

 ?? [BRYAN TERRY/ THE OKLAHOMAN] ?? Oklahoma's Ronnie Perkins (7) brings down Sam Ehlinger (11) of Texas for a loss during the 2018 Big 12 Championsh­ip football game in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 1. Oklahoma won 39-27.
[BRYAN TERRY/ THE OKLAHOMAN] Oklahoma's Ronnie Perkins (7) brings down Sam Ehlinger (11) of Texas for a loss during the 2018 Big 12 Championsh­ip football game in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 1. Oklahoma won 39-27.

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