Oklahoma football: 5 breakout players to watch in 2020

Oklahoma football breakout candidate No. 2: DaShaun White, LB

Full disclosure, DaShaun White had a very nice season in 2019, one good enough that many people might say he’s not able to break out this year because he’s already done so. Seeing that he was fourth on the Sooners with 51 total tackles while also registering 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack, that may be the case. And yet, I’m fully comfortable putting him here because of how much better than that he could be in the 2020 campaign.

Kenneth Murray was an absolute monster in the middle of the Oklahoma defense over the past two years, the quarterback on that side of the ball and the player who set the tone. But now that he’s gone for the NFL, White appears to be the most likely option to step into his role in the middle of the defense. And that opens the door for a ton of opportunities to make plays.

Make no mistake, Murray topped 250 total tackles over the past two seasons because of how dynamic of a player and athlete he is. But at the same time, when you’re asked to play the MIKE in the Sooners defensive system, you have the freedom to hunt the ball and make plays like that.

Subsequently, White filling Murray’s shoes should simply have him involved in far more plays, giving him the chance to submit his own 100+ tackle season and get into the backfield for double-digit tackles for loss as well. White has already shown some of the goods but we could get to see them all and maybe even some more with the increased role this year.