Damonic Williams, a defensive lineman, is still adjusting to wearing crimson rather than purple.
When Williams was at TCU, he confesses he didn’t always enjoy Oklahoma. He recalls playing the Sooners in last season’s regular-season finale, which OU won 69-45.
Throughout the game, one OU fan became increasingly agitated.
“He just kept talking mess,” Williams said. “Then, around the third or fourth quarter, I remember thinking, ‘Hey No. 52, we need a D-tackle.'” Come home, baby!’ I said, ‘Man, I’m never coming here. What? “Forget you all.”
A few weeks after the regular season ended, TCU parted ways with defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie. Williams stated that after hearing the news, he discussed their next steps with his teammates.
He stated that he hoped to stay for a long time, but after speaking with his mentor, Williams placed his name into the transfer portal in April.
“I’m a real relationship type guy,” Williams stated. “I’d rather stick it out with them than go somewhere else but then seeing what I felt like I couldn’t, I guess, produce what I was most capable of producing, that’s when I’m like, ‘Yeah, it’s probably time to go.”
Williams was regarded as one of the best defensive linemen in the transfer portal, but he was unprepared for the attention that came with it.
The 6-1, 319-pound defensive tackle was a former four-star prospect who started 27 games during his two seasons in Fort Worth. In 2022, he was selected a freshman All-American by 247Sports as part of a squad that advanced to the national final.
Last season, he recorded five tackles for loss, three sacks, and 33 total tackles.
His phone quickly filled up with text messages.
After an official visit to Oklahoma with his family, Williams’ decision was made.
“My mom was like … ‘Either you’re going and I’m going with you or I’m going by myself,” says Williams. “That was kind of already the deciding factor.”
After informing Brent Venables of the news, the Sooners’ head coach responded with a photo of himself wearing an OU No. 52 jersey, which Williams also wears.
With two years of eligibility remaining, Williams provides an intimidating presence in the center of the Sooners’ defense. The unit also welcomes back veterans such as Da’Jon Terry, Davon Sears, and Gracen Halton.
Williams has a limited amount of time to prepare for a new defensive system after missing spring workouts. Those guys have played an important role in assisting him with his transformation.
“It’s been a little tougher than I imagined, because I wanted to come in here and get the defense right immediately, but that’s not the case. “There is a lot that goes into the defense,” he explained.
Williams has not forgotten the players who helped him get where he is now, and he wants to repay them by preparing the Sooners’ young defensive lineman behind him. In addition to Williams, the Sooners signed three highly ranked defensive linemen in the 2024 recruiting class: Jayden Jackson, David Stone, and Nigel Smith II.
“They’re going to be terrific. “I promise you that,” Williams stated. “I am also quite excited to see them play. It gives me chills just thinking about it because knowing that OU will be in their hands in the next few years is going to be incredible.”