Ronnell Lewis Declared Eligible: No.1 Sooners Are Now Unstoppable

Hot off the press! After a summer battling the NCAA’s wacky rules, defensive end Ronnell Lewis has been declared eligible for the 2011 season. The details were fuzzy surrounding his case, as head coach Bob Stoops deflected questions like cornerback Jamell Fleming deflects passes.

The rich are only getting richer.

As good as the news is for Sooner Nation, it is just as bad for the rest of the country. The Hammer’s absence would have left the defense without one of its best all-around athletes and, according to defensive coordinator Brent Venerables, the team’s best pass rusher.

His addition, however, adds to what is now one of the top defensive fronts in all the land, boasting both talent and experience. Lewis combines with Frank Alexander and David King in a three-man rotation at end, while Jamarkus McFarland, Casey Walker and Stacy McGee make up another strong three-man rotation at defensive tackle.

When senior linebacker and three-time leading tackler Travis Lewis returns from a broken foot (doctors say Texas, Travis says Florida State), it will turn this Sooner defense up one more notch.

Upon Travis’ return, watch for some shifting to occur in the lineup. During spring practice, Stoops experimented with Travis’ backup, sophomore standout Corey Nelson, at strong side and moved Big 12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year Tony Jefferson to free safety. This combination looked lethal until Lewis went down.

Combine this soon-to-be salty defense with Heisman-favorite QB Landry Jones and a deadly stable of receivers and running backs, and the coveted crystal ball is the Sooners’ to lose.

Next stop, New Orleans!