Oklahoma DT Charles Walker to miss Orange Bowl with concussion

Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Charles Walker will miss the Orange Bowl, leaving a big hole in the Sooner defense.

Heading into the Orange Bowl, the last thing the Oklahoma Sooners needed was an injury as they already have to prepare for a potent Clemson offense. Unfortunately, that is what happened as it was announced Thursday that star defensive tackle Charles Walker will miss the game due to a concussion.

Walker has been a key part of the Sooners defensive charge this season with 10 tackles for a loss and six sacks. Without him, Jason Kersey of The Oklahoman looks at three players who can fill his spot on the defense.

This is a big blow to Oklahoma. Walker is very effective from his position in the middle of the line, and would have been a tremendous asset against a Tiger team that has running threats coming out of the backfield and a quarterback in Deshaun Watson who can certainly scamper with the ball.

Watson has run for 100-plus yards three times this season, and in the ACC Championship Game against North Carolina, he tore a talented Tar Heel defense apart, rushing the ball 24 times for 131 yards and two touchdowns.

Throughout the course of the season, the Sooners had difficulty stopping the run, allowing 149.2 yards per contest. However, a player’s health is ultimately more important than the game, so to keep him out of it is the right thing to do.

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If there are any positives to this situation, he will be able to get extra rest should the Sooners advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.