Oklahoma Sooners Football Recruiting: 2022 LB Kip Lewis commits to Oklahoma

Brian Odom continues to be a fundamental part of turning around the Oklahoma Sooners defense for good, and he proved it today by earning a commitment from elite linebacker Kip Lewis. It seems not far in the past that the Sooners were at slim pickings for linebackers in their system, but under Grinch and particularly Odom, Oklahoma now seems to be getting legit talent with Kobie McKinzie (and now Lewis) in the 2022 cycle. The newly committed linebacker is from Carthage, Texas chose the Sooners over several programs big offers such as USC, Texas, TCU, Notre Dame, LSU, A&M and others.

Lewis is listed as an outside linebacker, and in Grinch’s defense that could mean one of two things— either the WILL or EDGE position. Looking at his film, Lewis is explosive and plays behind the trenches, maybe suggesting to me that he would play at the WILL especially when one considers who Oklahoma is returning at ILB and EDGE next season. He stands at a frame of 6’1, 200 lbs. and will very likely make a leap of nearly 20 lbs. to play at either linebacker spot. His closing speed is incredible and his engine is always running HOT.

Lewis is now the Sooners’ 8th commit of the 2022 recruiting cycle and is one of the several high-profile defensive players that Alex Grinch is after in this recruiting cycle. Currently, Kip Lewis is rated as the No. 26 OLB overall and the No. 49 player in the state of Texas according to 247Sports Composite rankings, but I would expect those numbers to jump once the 2021 HS football season commences. Just as Grinch has been very instrumental in turning around the Oklahoma defense, Brian Odom has been just as important in recruiting and developing elite talent at linebacker.