In the Trenches with Sam Mayes: The Sooners defensive end explains how he is preparing younger teammates during an unprecedented offseason.

For OU defensive end Ethan Downs, there is no off-time in their offseason. The Sooners’ SEC debut gets closer every day, and Downs said he and his Sooner teammates are doing what they can to be at their best for this new chapter.

In this episode of In the Trenches, Downs joins Sam Mayes to discuss how the Sooners have improved the most since the Dec. 28 Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona and their mindset as they change conferences.

Episode highlights

2:05: On deciding to stay at OU after Lincoln Riley’s departure.

3:50: On his iconic Horns-Down pose at the Sugar Bowl.

9:58: Where the Sooners improved most in 2023.

13:39: Whether this is the most important offseason in OU football history.

18:14  The anticipation and preparations ahead of the move to the SEC.

Producer: Jacquelyn Musgrove, Michael Martin

Creative Director: Michael Lane

Social media: Bobby Howard

Director of Content: Mike Sherman

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