The Oklahoma Sooners might have their next star on the defensive line. The Sooners enter the 2026 college football season with one of the best defensive line groups in college football.
EDGEs Taylor Wein, Danny Okoye and Adepoju Adebawore, and defensive tackles David Stone and Jayden Jackson lead Oklahoma. While there appears to be strong depth at the EDGE position, Todd Bates' defensive tackle group has some question marks behind Stone and Jackson.
Some of the frontrunners to play behind those guys are Bishop Thomas, Nigel Smith II and Trent Wilson. However, Stone has apparently seen enough from freshman James "Tank" Carrington to believe he has a very high ceiling.
"Tank, he’s going to be special," Stone said via Sooners Illustrated. "I can’t
lie. Tank is going to be a dude for this school."
When asked what stands out the most about Carrington, it's the combination of the mental side of the game and his physicality.
"The biggest thing for me is the block (recognition)," Stone said. "Being able to recognize what you see and vocalize it. You’re actually really processing the game. And his hands. He plays with his hands very well. Very technical kid. I noticed that right off the rip."
What makes that praise particularly notable is that Stone didn't simply point to Carrington's physical ability. He highlighted the freshman's ability to process the game, communicate what he sees and play with technically sound hands.
Those traits can be difficult for a young defensive lineman to develop, which makes Carrington's early progress even more intriguing. Brent Venables' team doesn't necessarily need the 6-foot-2 and 295-pound freshman to become a star immediately. The Sooners already have experienced players ahead of him.
But if he can earn a meaningful role as a freshman and continue developing behind Stone and Jackson, Oklahoma could have another major piece ready to take over when those veterans move on.
For a program that has made elite defensive line play one of its defining traits, Carrington could be the next name in the pipeline. And if Stone's evaluation proves correct, Sooners fans may want to learn his name sooner rather than later.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma's Brent Venables has his next star on the defensive line
