Oklahoma Sooners senior leader is finally getting the recognition he deserves heading into a huge season

The Oklahoma Sooners are heading into a very big season for 2024, as they approach becoming introduced into SEC play , where, as they say, it just means more. The Sooners will need all three phases to be great this season, specifically on the defensive side of the ball, which is where this team is built with Brent Venables being the head coach.

That defense will be led by linebacker Danny Stutsman, one of, if not the best linebackers in the country. But, while everyone who covers or follows the Sooners knows that, it feels like Stutsman, a senior on the defense, is not getting the recognition he deserves. Now, he is a bit more.

Stutsman is on a few watchlists heading into the 2024-25 season. The Sooners posted a graphic with Stutsman on it, showing the watchlist he is on now, and the graphic fits how we know Stutsman to be -- loud and energetic.

Here are the watchlist he was recently named to:

ESPN Preseason All-America Team and The Sporting News Preseason All-America Second Team. He has also landed on the preseason ALL-SEC first team this year, too.

Last year Stsutman finished second-team All-America honors and first-team All-Big 12. With this being another year in the Venables defense, and better weapons on the defense around him, guys maturing and getting better all around. Now, he just has to go and do it, which for him, is the easy part.

Related: Oklahoma Sooners and Brent Venables set to host top tier wide receiver recruit to keep away from Texas