Stutsman led Oklahoma in both total tackles and tackles for loss despite missing a game and a half due to injury. His 104 tackles were tied for 53rd among all FBS defensive players last season, while his 16 tackles for loss were tied for 20thnationally. He finished sixth in the Big 12 in total tackles and second in the conference in stops behind the line of scrimmage, trailing only UCF’s Tre’Mon Morris-Brash’s 20.5 last season.
Along with those numbers, Stutsman posted 20 total pressures, including three sacks and 14 quarterback hurries. He added a team-leading 47 stops — plays that are considered a failure by the opposing offense — while also forcing two fumbles, breaking up three passes and returning an interception for a touchdown.
Stutsman’s accolade should come as no surprise, as he’s coming off an All-America junior campaign for the Sooners. The 6-foot-4, 241-pound linebacker was a second-team Walter Camp All-American and third-team AP All-American last fall, when he totaled 104 tackles, including 16 for a loss and three sacks.
Five players on this list enter their sophomore seasons after arriving on college campuses out of the class of 2023. Multiple true freshmen made huge impacts last season, with safeties Caleb Downs and Dillon Thieneman making first-team All-America teams. The five on this list fell short of national honors but are posted to enter the conversation this fall after putting a year of experience under their belts.
Some upperclassmen on this list had injuries that kept them from the national spotlight last season or sat behind experienced playmakers. Others played on smaller market teams and will have an opportunity to become household names after transferring to bigger programs this offseason.
