Crimson Countdown: No. 54 Jacob Lacey

The Crimson Countdown is officially on for the 2023 Oklahoma football season. It’s the second season under head coach Brent Venables and expectations are high once again. The Sooners are looking to rebound from the uncharacteristic 6-7 season in 2022.

Every day as we get closer to kickoff, SoonerScoop.com will count down the days with you. Starting with No. 98 and working our way to No. 0, we’ll be there every step of the way.

Crimson Countdown: No. 54 Jacob Lacey

2022 stats: Five tackles (three solo), two sacks, and one pass defended (in five games at Notre Dame).

2023 Outlook: Oklahoma’s considerable portal haul for the 2023 season was underway early when Lacey announced his commitment to the Sooners on Nov. 24, 2022. His decision was made all the easier due to a long-standing relationship with the Oklahoma staff. A staff that he nearly chose when they were at Clemson.

“Once he got in that portal, we’re the first call he made. He knew already where he wanted to come because the relationship was already there,” Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Todd Bates said. “And he trusts our development that we had in our scheme and he knew that we had a track record of developing defensive linemen and leading the country over the last 10 years in our school in draft picks. So he wanted to come and be a part of that — to a place that was going to help him sharpen and shine up his skillset and add some tools to his tool belt.”

As for his 2023 season Lacey is one of the most experienced defensive tackles on a roster with five interior defensive linemen with upperclassmen who have starting experience.

Lacey’s exact placement in that depth is a bit unclear but there’s no question that the Sooners are hoping he can be a playmaker on the inside.

2023 defensive tackle outlook:

There’s not one position that was more active in the transfer portal this past cycle. Notre Dame transfer Jacob Lacey and Texas State’s Davon Sears join fifth year seniors Jordan Kelley and Isaiah Coe. Jonah Laulu moves inside from defensive end and sophomore Gracen Halton flashed at times a season ago. More production from the interior of the defensive line is needed if Oklahoma wants to make a jump defensively in Venables’s second season.

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