NORMAN — When the Sooners announced their team captains for this season over the weekend, four of the names stuck out. Among the seven captains included Gracen Halton, Robert Spears-Jennings, Kip Lewis and R Mason Thomas. That quartet isn’t just entering into their senior seasons — they’ve all spent their entire careers with the Sooners. […]
NORMAN — When the Sooners announced their team captains for this season over the weekend, four of the names stuck out.
Among the seven captains included Gracen Halton, Robert Spears-Jennings, Kip Lewis and R Mason Thomas. That quartet isn’t just entering into their senior seasons — they’ve all spent their entire careers with the Sooners.
“It means a lot,” Halton said. “Watching the (OU) teams that passed from my freshman year to it now being my senior year, just giving the younger guys key points. Just giving everybody motivation means a lot so I can lead the team to where we want to go.”
It’s a big testament to Halton’s growth, particularly since he missed most of fall camp with an injury. But even while he was off the field, Halton emerged as a leader both for the defensive tackles and the Sooners as a whole.
With the Sooners opening their season at 5 p.m. Saturday against Illinois State, Halton confirmed that he’s “100 percent” healthy and ready to go.
“It was difficult just not being out there, grinding with my guys,” Halton said. “That’s really hurt me, but in order for me to be better for the team I’ve got to be 100 percent. Just sitting on the sideline watching different guys, I was thinking about it the other day because I’m watching the team. Being here for four years, watching the different teams that I’ve been on, watching this team go at it, it’s a different atmosphere. It’s a different energy. Guys really want it.
“So just sitting back and watching everything really helped me and really made me want to go hard for my guys because of just how bad they want it.”
Halton is right — the Sooners need him to be on the field this fall, and it’s huge that he’ll be healthy for the season opener.
Halton was a breakout player for the Sooners last season. He finished second on the team in sacks (5) while adding 30 tackles and six tackles for loss. He played 402 snaps, per Pro Football Focus, which marked the 10th most on OU’s defense.
He’ll be in line for another big role this fall. He was listed as a co-starter at defensive tackle on Monday’s depth chart, and he’ll be a key piece of the interior defensive line alongside Damonic Williams, Jayden Jackson and Gracen Halton.
It’s a big honor for Halton to be named as a captain alongside Thomas, Spears-Jennings, Lewis, Damonic Williams, Troy Everett and John Mateer.
“(We’re) willing to go get it at all costs,” Halton said. “Just a group of guys that’s willing to lead the team, willing to go to war for anyone on the team.”
With the Sooners opening their season this weekend, the defense is again expected to be among the best units in the SEC. Halton is hoping to provide a steady leadership role as the Sooners look to bounce back from a tough last season.
“Just overcoming adversity,” Halton said about his mindset as a leader. “Proving the doubters wrong. You know, people out there talking how good we can be, how bad we can be. We’re not worried about that.
“We’re not worried about the outside noise. Just keep coming to work every day.”
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Category: General Sports
