SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Under-the-radar defender set for career year for Oklahoma and could be pivotal for Sooners' sustained dominance in 2025

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By AJ Schulte | Last updated Jul 26, 2025 9:14 PM ET

The Oklahoma Sooners are set to return plenty of production from an elite defense in 2024. According to ESPN's Bill Connelly, 63% of production returns from last season, but their only significant losses of the offseason were linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman.

Stutsman's departure is being filled in well with a strong contingent of players like Kip Lewis, Samuel Omosigho, Kendal Daniels, and Kobie McKinzie, but the departure of Bowman is a significant gap that has some uncertainty around it. There's hasn't been much discussion around this spot so far this offseason.

However, one former elite recruit is set to take center stage in replacing Bowman: Peyton Bowen.

Bowen had a strong freshman season, capped off by a pivotal forced fumble against Texas. In 2023, Bowen allowed just seven receptions for 79 yards and forced five pass breakups. However, his production dipped in 2024, allowing 207 yards despite playing fewer snaps, and he didn't record a single PBU.

True freshman composite 5⭐️ DB Peyton Bowen forces the fumble on Quinn Ewers

Bowen has also blocked 2 punts this season on special teams.pic.twitter.com/oS9nsFeyQN
— 247Sports (@247Sports) October 7, 2023

People around the team have relayed that Bowen, like most of the team last year, battled an injury for most of the year. However, he's a sharp player, and we know that he can play at a high level.

It won't be easy to replace Bowman. The All-American safety wore a lot of hats for the Sooners' defense, and his coverage ability and athleticism allowed Oklahoma's defense to be extremely creative defensively. Bowen is a strong athlete in his own right (he wasn't a five-star for nothing), but he still has some remarkably big shoes to fill.

However, Bowen has reportedly taken that next step as a player and has begun to show that same playmaking ability that made his freshman season so encouraging.

If he and Robert Spears-Jennings can form a duo as strong as Bowman and RSJ formed last season, Oklahoma's defense will be set to continue its established dominance from a year ago.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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