An already stout Oklahoma Sooners defense receives reinforcements, LB Dasan McCullough returns to practice

According to head coach Brent Venables on Wednesday night, the Oklahoma Sooners defense gets another talented playmaker back this week, as linebacker Dasan McCullough returned to practice.

A transfer from Indiana, McCullough battled injuries throughout 2023, but still put up a strong season manning the "Cheetah" position for the team and made several critical plays in their 10-2 season, including leading the way on their infamous goal-line stand against Texas last season.

He hadn't taken a snap in 2024 so far, battling lower body injuries.

The linebacker room for the Oklahoma Sooners has been nothing short of an elite unit this season. Now, the unit becomes even stronger, as Dasan McCullough returns to practice for the first time this season.

Related: Oklahoma Sooners HC Brent Venables showed why he’s a defensive genius with the game on the line vs. Auburn

Danny Stutsman has led the way for this team, but Kip Lewis, Kobie McKinzie, Lewis Carter, and Samuel Omosigho have all made some terrific plays on film this year. Adding McCullough to that room just might make the Sooners' linebacker corps one of the best, if not the best, in the country.

While we're not sure what McCullough's status will be for Texas next week, his return to practice will be crucial down the stretch for Oklahoma's defense. The Sooners will take on Ole Miss, Missouri, Alabama, and LSU's offenses this year, so they will need as many talented players as they can to slow down these high-scoring units.

McCullough bounced around learning the "Cheetah" position and WILL linebacker this offseason, so his positional versatility is a positive. The Sooners lost Cheetah Kendel Dolby to an injury against Tennessee, so McCullough could take over there. This could allow the Sooners to move Woodi Washington back to outside corner and improve their depth there.

They could also take it slow and keep McCullough down at WILL linebacker, letting him slowly rotate back into the lineup as he works his way back from injury.

Either way, McCullough's return is a welcome one for the Sooners. While linebacker was far from a position of concern, the Sooners are now legitimately six players deep at the position with his return and can throw plenty of different looks at opposing defenses now.