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    Kip Lewis showed 'great wisdom' in bypassing NFL draft for OU football return

    Colton Sulley, The Oklahoman
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    3 min read

    Kip Lewis leaned on his faith as he weighed whether to return to Oklahoma or turn pro.

    With the Sooners , Lewis would return as the team’s leading tackler and immediately cement himself as the most experienced and productive defender on the roster with a chance to take his game to an even higher level. If he chose to leave college, the four-year veteran would’ve likely been a Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft.

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    Lewis spoke with his family and friends and met with OU general manager Jim Nagy and coach Brent Venables. He even heard quarterback John Mateer ’s pitch.

    “Mostly just chalked it up with God,” Lewis said.

    Much like Mateer’s choice , Lewis’ decision was simple in the end. The linebacker felt he had more work to do and that another impressive season could catapult his draft stock next year. He also believes the program could’ve made it further in the College Football Playoff last season and has unfinished business.

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    Bowie Bentley (8) runs drills during an Oklahoma (OU) football practice in Norman, Okla., on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
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    OU football opens 2026 spring practice, see top photos of Sooners

    Bowie Bentley (8) runs drills during an Oklahoma (OU) football practice in Norman, Okla., on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

    Lewis' return was a major domino in the Sooners’ offseason as he has been one of their best players the past couple of seasons. In 2025, he totaled 76 tackles, 10 ½ tackles for loss and four sacks while starting all 13 games.

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    Venables was ecstatic to continue pouring into Lewis.

    "His focus and his why to come back was great wisdom,” Venables said. “His motives are pure. One of the most disruptive linebackers in all of college football. He’s invested in this program going on, I guess it'd be five years here, and wants to get better. Wants to improve. Wants to help us compete and chase a national championship.

    “His wisdom and all of his experiences are gonna be great and has been up to this point, for the rest of the football team, the defense and certainly the linebacking group that he's part of."

    Lewis was one of three OU players following the season to approach Nagy about reaching out to NFL general managers to gauge where teams viewed him.

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    The resource that Nagy is for players thinking about testing the NFL Draft waters or preparing for the process can’t be overstated. Every player met with a member of the Sooners’ staff and was put through taped mock NFL Scouting Combine interviews.

    More: John Mateer isn't making excuses for last season, but OU football QB is on a 'mission'

    Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis (10) celebrates a play during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Missouri Tigers at Gaylord Family Ð Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. Oklahoma won 17-6.
    Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis (10) celebrates a play during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Missouri Tigers at Gaylord Family Ð Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. Oklahoma won 17-6.

    Nagy had Lewis and the two walked through some minor details where Lewis could improve before next year.

    “Really just helping me clean up my game a little bit,” Lewis said. “Just being able to go higher than what I wanted to go. Just knowing I've still got more in the tank to get better. Just small things details-wise. So, excited to come back, ready to give it my all.”

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    Now fully focused on the season ahead, Lewis is tasked with leading an inexperienced linebacking corps. The Sooners added talented Michigan linebacker Cole Sullivan in the transfer portal, but returned just three players with OU snaps from a season ago — Taylor Heim, Marcus James and James Nesta. The Sooners could still get Owen Heinecke back after he filed for a preliminary injunction Monday for another year of eligibility.

    After spring practice No. 1, Lewis is encouraged by the hunger from his young position group.

    As for the coaching staff, there isn’t another player they’d rather have leading the linebackers on game day. Game Day Kip is the stuff of legends.

    “Everyone’s heard me say Game Day Kip is different,” Nagy said. “It would have been really hard to replace his juice on game day.”

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    Colton Sulley covers the  Oklahoma Sooners  for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

    This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football coach Brent Venables praises Kip Lewis' 'great wisdom'

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