What role will Gracen Halton fill for OU football team? Sooners’ DL need reps, leadership

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NORMAN — Gracen Halton has played a lot of football the past two seasons under head coach Brent Venables at OU.

During spring practice and ahead of the 2024 season, the Sooners’ defensive line has several inexperienced, but talented players in the fold. Following Jacob Lacey’s retirement due to blood clots, Halton, the junior defensive lineman, and Da’Jon Terry have been forced to step into larger leadership roles.

Halton appeared in 11 games as a backup defensive tackle last season and recorded 11 tackles, including three and a half for loss and one quarterback hurry. He is expected to contribute even more in the fall.

“(I want to) play more,” Halton chuckled when asked for his self-expectations. “Yeah, play more. Be on the field more.”

Halton’s imposing start to the spring should be a welcome sight to Oklahoma fans.

More: Which Oklahoma football players have most to gain as Sooners start spring practice?

Oklahoma’s Kenneth Wermy (left) works against Gracen Halton during the University of Oklahoma (OU) spring football practice at the Everest Training Center in Norman, Okla., Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

He’s held his weight against his colossal offensive line teammates in practice and should put on more weight for the SEC in the fall after another summer with ​strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt. During Wednesday’s practice, he won several “W” drill reps, a one on one pass protection exercise.

“It’s been great, man,” Halton said Wednesday of his spring. “Just trying to get better every day. That’s really what it is. Trying to get 1% better every day. Coaching up the young guys that’s in here and coaching up myself. But knowing that I have to be that leader in the room, knowing that I’ve been here before, I’ve done this before, so just trying to get better every day.”

The Sooners…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/role-gracen-halton-fill-ou-103035427.html

Author : The Oklahoman

Publish date : 2024-03-29 10:30:35

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