Oklahoma Sooners linebacker makes Nagurski Award watch list
The Oklahoma Sooners had another player make a preseason watch list for a postseason award on Tuesday. Linebacker Kip Lewis was one of 60 players named to the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given annually to the best defensive player in college football. The only Oklahoma Sooners to win the award were Roy Williams in 2001 and Derrick Strait in 2003. Both did so under Brent Venables when he was the defensive coordinator at OU. Strait represents the last defensive back to win an award that's been dominated by linebackers and defensive linemen over the last 23 years.
Lewis provided two of OU's best moments during the 2024 season. His pick six against Auburn gave Oklahoma a lead they wouldn't relinquish late in the fourth quarter, while his pick six against Alabama ultimately put the Crimson Tide into an unrecoverable tailspin that night in Norman.
Lewis returns in 2025 as one of the veteran leaders of head coach Brent Venables' defense. He's started at linebacker since midway through the 2023 season alongside Danny Stutsman.
Now with Stutsman off to the NFL, the Sooners are hoping Lewis can help fill his big shoes at Oklahoma. He's entering his fourth year at Oklahoma, as a member of the 2022 recruiting class, Venables' first at OU.
Lewis figures to have a big say in how good the Sooners could be on defense this year. Venables and his staff will be counting on the veteran to provide more big moments this fall.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.
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