𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: 𝗢𝗸𝗹𝗮𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻, 𝗥. 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁, 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗻

BREAKING NEWS: Oklahoma Sooners Legends Danny Stutsman, R Mason Thomas, and Gracen Halton Drop Major Boost for Sooners’ 2025 Title Run

NORMAN, OK — June 25, 2025

In a move that has electrified the Oklahoma football fanbase, former Sooners standouts Danny Stutsman, R Mason Thomas, and Gracen Halton have returned to Norman—not as players, but as strategic ambassadors and mentors, injecting a powerful dose of championship energy into the program just weeks ahead of fall camp.

The trio, each a cornerstone of the Sooners’ defensive resurgence in the early 2020s, arrived at the Switzer Center Wednesday morning to announce their collaboration with head coach Brent Venables. Their initiative, dubbed “Legacy Mode,” is aimed at restoring Oklahoma’s defensive identity while rallying current players around the culture and tradition that once made the program a perennial powerhouse.

“We’re not here to relive the past,” said Stutsman, clad in crimson and cream. “We’re here to build the future. This team has the talent, but it needs that edge—the one we bled for. We’re going to help bring that back.”

Stutsman, a fan favorite and former All-Big 12 linebacker, was the emotional leader of OU’s 2023 defense, known for his sideline-to-sideline ferocity and locker room presence. R Mason Thomas, an explosive edge rusher, brought NFL-caliber speed off the line, while Gracen Halton, the former transfer from Oregon, anchored the defensive interior with raw power and relentless motor.

All three now return with professional experience—Stutsman recently signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Thomas spent a year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad, and Halton has been training with elite linemen in Los Angeles. But their bond to OU remains unshaken.

“This is personal,” said Thomas. “When we played here, it wasn’t just football. It was brotherhood. And the young guys—guys like PJ Adebawore, Kip Lewis, and Adepoju Alade—need to feel that legacy burn in their chest.”

Coach Venables, beaming as he stood beside them, called the reunion “a defining moment for the 2025 season.”

“These guys helped lay the groundwork for what we’re trying to become,” Venables said. “Their presence is invaluable. They know what it means to wear the jersey—not just physically, but spiritually.”

The announcement comes at a critical time. With Oklahoma preparing for its second full season in the SEC, expectations are sky-high. The defense, while improved, has struggled with consistency. The mentorship program will allow current players to work directly with the alumni through training sessions, film breakdowns, and weekly leadership meetings.

Social media lit up within minutes of the announcement. Fans dubbed the initiative “The Crimson Resurgence.” Former players chimed in as well—Baker Mayfield tweeted, “This is what it’s all about. Legacy. Love it.” Meanwhile, media insiders are calling the move “a culture shift disguised as a homecoming.”

Whether it translates into wins remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Norman is buzzing again. With Stutsman, Thomas, and Halton back in the fold, Oklahoma’s defense has not only gained mentors—it has found its soul.