Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman to enter NFL Draft

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Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Gracen Halton announced his intentions to enter the NFL Draft on Sunday. The senior from San Diego, California spent all four years of his college career at OU, playing right away as a true freshman as a member of the 2022 recruiting class. He had exhausted his collegiate eligibility.

At defensive tackle, Halton became a contributor on OU's defense in 2023, and had a breakout year in 2024. He was a big piece of an elite defensive line that keyed Oklahoma's run to the College Football Playoff in 2025. The interior of that line may have been they best unit on the entire team, and Halton was a big part of a defensive resurgence for the Sooners under Brent Venables.

During his career in Norman, Halton registered 84 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two pass breakups. He has a very good chance to be drafted in April, and he stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 292 pounds. He's an explosive player on the defensive front that is a weapon against the run and the pass.

The Sooners knew they'd be losing Halton after the 2025 season, and he'll exit along with fellow seniors Damonic Williams, R Mason Thomas, and Marvin Jones Jr. on the defensive line this offseason. Oklahoma hopes to return Jayden Jackson and David Stone on the interior, and Taylor Wein, Adepoju Adebawore, and Danny Okoye on the edge.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Sooners' DL will enter NFL Draft

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