Hot 11: Sooners Camp Defense

Oklahoma’s five days of summer camp completed last week and we’re taking a look at some of the strong performances. A gaggle of new offers went out and many are on the list. There are also a pair of Sooners commitments who made the cut of the defensive Hot 11. Take a look as we break down the best defenders we saw in Norman through much of June.

11. Zane Rowe – Denton (Texas) Guyer – 2027 – EDGE

Breakdown: The Oklahoma commitment more than lived up to the billing in spite of his considerable youth. Rowe is as physically impressive as any defensive end you’ll find in the class. And while he’s still figuring out the position, there upside is absolutely tremendous. Mix his strength, his frame, and his natural athleticism and the future is bright for Rowe.

10. Cooper Witten – Argyle (Texas) Liberty Christian – 2027 – ATH

Breakdown: We only got to see Witten for a limited amount of time but what we saw was well worth his new Sooners offer. He’s a big athlete who figures to end up at linebacker but there’s a lot of potential in various directions for him. We can’t wait to see more.

9. Tufanua Umu-Cais – Englewood (Colo.) Cherry Creek – 2026 – DT

Breakdown: One of the real surprises of camps. Umu-Cais had loads of twitch and a real confidence about his game. The big man has some positional versatility in where he could play on the inside but seems most likely to play as a three-technique in the future. He was good with his hands and really showed off impressive balance throughout the day.

8. Jordan Deck – Frisco (Texas) Lone Star – 2026 – S

Breakdown: Another guy that we really wanted to see more of. But what little we did see Deck is an unbelievable athlete with massive upside. The Sooners decided to offer him and it’s not hard to figure why, he’s a safety with real coverage skills thanks in no small part to his time as a receiver.

7. Joseph Graves – Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington – 2027 – DT

Breakdown: This was a viewing that was 15 years in the making. It wasn’t that long ago we were watching his father, Pearlie Graves , dominate for East Central in Tulsa. Graves showed off so much burst for a guy so young and frankly just forced the Sooners to make him an offer. He’s a very real talent and if he grows some more could turn into a high-end national recruit.

6. Maliek Hawkins – Frisco (Texas) Emerson – 2025 – CB

Breakdown: Hawkins arrived to camp as a guy the Scoop staff, admittedly, just hadn’t seen enough of. He’s also the kind of corner that makes some real sense for the Sooners. Hawkins is big and physical and isn’t shy about getting into a receiver and disrupting his movement. He got a little grabby a few times but his feel for receivers routes was unparalleled when we got to watc him.

5. Krew Jones – Millville (Utah) Ridgeline – 2027 – EDGE

Breakdown: Jones was one of the real highlights of the last few days of camp. He mixed some big-time burst and a clearly developing set of pass rush moves. Jones is still very young but with his frame and work in the weight room look for him to return to Norman and as a senior for him to be an absolute monster.

4. Montre Jackson – Garland (Texas) Lakeview Centennial – 2026 – CB

Breakdown: There were plenty of big and long cornerbacks during the five days of camp but none blended size with movement skills like Jackson. In the picture above you can see him getting ready to drive on the receiver and break up a pass. He’s just so impressive as he comes downhill. Once he gets near the ball his incredible length and speed make him a real problem in passing lanes.

3. Joseph Terry – Rancho Santa Margarita (Calif.) Santa Margarita Catholic – 2026 – DT

Breakdown: Terry was one of the real stories of camp. Again, listed as an athlete it took a little while to figure out the defensive tackle that was wrecking shop at Sooners camp. Terry was as complete an interior defensive lineman as we saw all week. On the rare occasion an offensive lineman could deal with his initial move he had answers for one and all. He was well worthy of his Sooners offer.

2. Kaden Henderson – Tampa (Fla.) Jesuit – 2027 – LB

Breakdown: Few players came in with more hype and better delivered than Henderson. He was a guy you noticed from the jump and knew the Sooners would be pouring attention in his direction. Some of his work in pass coverage was just unbelievable.

1. Marcus Fakatou – Fontana (Calif.) Orange Lutheran – 2028 – EDGE

Breakdown: Fakatou is a great story, moving from Alaska and showing up to the Sooners camp before his freshman year of high school and dominating . He was truly unbelievable and has the look of a future top 10 overall player. Fakatou had an unbelievable range of moves for a player so young – he’ll be a nightmare almost immediately in the nation’s toughest prep league.

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