Oklahoma Sooners defensive notes after victory over Temple

The Oklahoma Sooners defense forced six turnovers and allowed just 197 total yards in a 51-3 victory.

It was a dominant performance from start to finish. Here are some individual notes from OU’s Sports Information Department.

LB Lewis Carter

• Notched a career-high four tackles and his first career forced fumble. The fumble came on a punt return and led to Jaren Kanak’s return for a touchdown.

DB Kendel Dolby

• Registered two solo tackles, one sack, one pass breakup (that led to Kani Walker’s interception) and one QB hurry. He now has 3.0 sacks, four PBUs and five QB hurries in his OU career.

DL Ethan Downs

• Notched his second career forced fumble in the first quarter on Temple’s second possession of the game. He finished with two solo tackles and a sack. He now has 10.5 sacks and 24.0 tackles for loss in his career.

DL Gracen Halton

• Notched his first career forced fumble on a play in the second quarter and his first career sack in the first half. He finished with three tackles and 1.5 sacks.

DB Jaydan Hardy

• True freshman registered his first career interception on a play in the fourth quarter, and returned it 26 yards. The interception led to OU’s final touchdown of the game.

DL Jayden Jackson

• Became only the fourth OU true freshman to start on the defensive line in a season opener. The others were Marcus Lowe in 1987, Corey Callens in 1997 and Tommie Harris in 2001. Jackson finished with one solo tackle.

LB Jaren Kanak

• Recovered a fumble on a punt return that was forced by Lewis Carter and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown. It was his second career fumble recovery (first since 2022) and first career touchdown. He finished with two tackles.

DB Billy Bowman Jr.

• Made his fourth straight start in a season opener.

• Recovered a fumble forced by Gracen Halton. It was his second career fumble recovery and first since the 2022 season.

DL Da’Jon Terry

• Recovered a fumble forced by Ethan Downs. It was his first career fumble recovery. He also recorded a solo tackle.

DB Kani Walker

• Notched his second career interception (and second in as many games) on a first-quarter pass that was deflected by DB Kendel Dolby.

Walker’s first career interception came in the 2023 Alamo Bowl. He added three tackles and one pass breakup tonight.