Kip Lewis, Taylor Wein, and Peyton Bowen spoke to the media after their first spring practice for Oklahoma Football this offseason with a renewed mindset and goals for the season ahead
NORMAN, Okla. — The Oklahoma Sooners defense hit the turf for its first spring practice of the 2026 cycle on Wednesday, and the vibe was unmistakable: hungry, loud, and loaded with belief.
Brent Venables’ unit is refusing to rest on last year’s laurels. Instead, it’s doubling down on the details, the physicality, and the culture that made it one of the best defenses in the country.
Veteran linebacker Kip Lewis, who led the team with 76 tackles in 2025, set the tone immediately.
Lewis made it clear he isn’t coasting, "I still got more left in the tank, just to get better (with) small things, details."
He spoke about cleaning up his game through conversations with general manager Jim Nagy and head coach Venables, focusing on elevating every aspect of his play.
Lewis also emphasized stepping into a bigger leadership role. “Just being more vocal as I can… keep on bringing the passion and energy I can around the guys. It feels good just to know that people look up to you and count on you. It’s a big thing for me this year to pour into (this team) as much as I can — everything I’ve got.”
That leadership mentality echoed throughout the defensive meeting rooms and on the practice field. Defensive end Taylor Wein, a key contributor in the pass rush last season, highlighted the intentional work the unit has put in during the offseason to forge a tighter bond.
“(I’ve been working to) get stronger, get faster and become a leader, be someone that the young guys can look up to and be a shoulder that they can lean on and just establish just a brotherhood here, and we’ve done a damn good job,” Wein said.
Wein also singled out one newcomer who has already made an impression: Michigan transfer linebacker Cole Sullivan.
Sullivan, one of the top linebackers in the portal and a former starter for the Wolverines, committed to OU in early January and has wasted no time injecting competitiveness into the room.
“He’s going to be a big addition to our defense, and he’s going to help us win,” Wein said. “He has high standards… and he’s really competitive — something we need in our defense, especially in that linebacker room.”
Safety Peyton Bowen, entering his fourth spring with the program and widely viewed as a leader in the secondary, echoed the same theme of quiet accountability.
“I try to lead by example as much as I can because… these young guys look up to me. So I got to make sure I’m leading by example, no matter who’s watching,” Bowen said.
The first practice itself was businesslike but electric. With 16 newcomers on defense (including five transfers totaling 89 career games and 22 starts), the Sooners are blending proven production with fresh talent.
While some veterans sat out with minor injuries, including defensive lineman David Stone in a boot, the healthy bodies flew around, emphasizing fundamentals, communication, and the relentless pursuit Venables demands.
Lewis later noted a key statistical takeaway from 2025: when the defense avoided penalties, opponents scored on just 9% of drives; when penalties crept in, that number jumped to 46%.
Eliminating self-inflicted wounds and forcing more turnovers are clear spring priorities.
Sullivan’s arrival shores up the linebacker corps at a critical time with the Sooners still fighting for Owen Heinecke's eligibility. Returning standouts like Lewis, Wein, and Bowen provide the veteran anchors needed to develop the wave of young talent and mid-year enrollees now in the fold.
Spring ball is always about growth, but this group feels different. The brotherhood Wein described isn’t lip service, it’s the foundation.
Lewis is chasing perfection in the little things. Bowen is modeling the standard. Wein is demanding competitiveness from every rep. And Sullivan is already raising the bar.
As the Sooners prepare for 15 more practices and the annual spring game, one message rings clear from the defensive side of the ball: last year was just the beginning.
With experience, transfers, and an unrelenting hunger for the small details, OU’s defense isn’t arriving in 2026; it’s already here, louder and more locked in than ever.