For all of their struggles, the Sooners were extremely stout up front last year and ranked 24th nationally in run defense at 115.1 yards allowed per game. If Stone elevates his game to the next level, the defensive front as a whole would likely round into a truly elite unit.

With the returning experience, transfers who have bought into Venables' vision and new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle's rebuild of the Sooners' offense, there's a quiet confidence within the coaching staff. OU knows it's a prove-it season.

Brent Venables admits he could be better "I can probably get better at everything. I'd say that if we went 16-0," You look at everything in your program, you evaluate it, all your