‘He’s a beast’: TCU Elite Transfer Making Strong 1st Impression, 6-foot-1, 319-pound Sensation
DALLAS — Danny Stutsman observed two key traits in Damonic Williams after the former TCU defensive tackle joined Oklahoma this summer: his impressive size and his natural leadership abilities.
Williams, who transferred to Oklahoma during the post-spring portal period, has quickly connected with his new teammates and made a solid impact during summer training. He’s anticipated to play a crucial role for the Sooners in their inaugural season in the SEC, strengthening the defensive line’s interior.
“That guy’s legs are huge, seriously,” Stutsman remarked at SEC Media Days this week. “It’s like my two legs equal one of his. He’s going to be an outstanding player for us. He fit in right away—usually it takes time, but he has earned everyone’s respect. You just look at him and see he’s a natural leader.”
The 6-foot-1, 319-pound Damonic Williams has joined Oklahoma football after spending his first two seasons at TCU. During his time with the Horned Frogs, Williams started all 27 games on the defensive line and recorded 60 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss and 4.5 sacks. He was named a Freshman All-American in 2022, registering 27 tackles, 4.5 for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. That year, he helped TCU reach the Big 12 Championship and the College Football Playoff, where they finished as the national runners-up to Georgia.
As a sophomore, Williams improved his performance even further, accumulating 33 tackles, with five behind the line of scrimmage, including three sacks. He received Honorable Mention All-Big 12 recognition before entering the transfer portal this spring and eventually committing to Oklahoma on May 2.
During his two seasons at TCU, Williams was especially strong against the run, proving to be a solid tackler with only three missed tackles over 27 games, achieving a total of 28 stops (tackles that hinder offensive plays).
“He’s going to add toughness to our defense,” said OU safety Billy Bowman Jr. “In particular, we need to focus on stopping the run on the defensive line, and that’s why we brought him in.”
Williams has 27 career starts, surpassing the combined total of all other Oklahoma football defensive tackles, and he is expected to start alongside sixth-year senior Da’Jon Terry on the Sooners’ defensive line. Terry, who has 13 career starts, is one of only two defensive tackles on the roster with starting experience, especially after Jacob Lacey’s spring medical retirement; the other is former Texas State transfer Davon Sears, who has three career starts but none at Oklahoma last season.
With 1,088 career snaps, Williams ranks second among OU’s defensive tackles this season, just behind Terry’s 1,106 across five seasons at Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Kansas.
Williams’ experience has clearly made an impression on his new teammates since his arrival in Norman this summer. The junior defensive tackle has been a dominant presence in player-run practices, even before putting on pads. That opportunity will come soon as OU begins fall camp for the 2024 season.
“From the moment Dam stepped in, he’s been a beast,” Stutsman noted. “When he joined us for conditioning, we weren’t sure what to expect, but he came in and excelled right away. There won’t be any drop-off; he’ll adjust quickly. He’s done an amazing job learning the system and working with Coach (Todd) Bates. I believe he’ll be fully prepared for what we need, especially for the SEC—he’s the kind of player we need.”
Williams will significantly contribute as both an on-field force in the Oklahoma defense, which is expected to improve in Year 3 under Brent Venables, and as a veteran leader off the field and in meetings for a relatively inexperienced group of defensive tackles.
Aside from Terry’s wealth of experience, the other scholarship defensive tackles on the Sooners’ roster have minimal in-game experience at this level. David Stone and Jayden Jackson are true freshmen who are anticipated to play key roles; Gracen Halton has logged 165 snaps over the past two years in 20 games; Davon Sears has accumulated 365 snaps in three seasons, including just 11 last year for Oklahoma; Ashton Sanders played 19 snaps, and Markus Strong had two total snaps as true freshmen last season.
“The system takes some time to learn, but he’s starting to grasp it,” Stutsman remarked. “Throughout the summer, he’s been leading the group and guiding the younger players every day. He’s a valuable asset for them.”