Oklahoma’s defensive tackle Jacob Lacey confirmed on Thursday that he will retire from football due to a recurrence of blood clots that jeopardized his career less than a year ago. Lacey made the announcement on social media, echoing earlier statements by Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables that his retirement was likely due to health concerns. Venables described the news as a significant loss for the Sooners’ defense during a podcast appearance.
Lacey, who posted about experiencing two pulmonary embolism incidents within a year, expressed gratitude towards Sooner nation and emphasized his determination not to let football define him despite the loss of the game he loves. His retirement, just before Oklahoma’s spring practices, creates a significant gap in the team’s defensive line. Last season, Lacey, a former Notre Dame transfer, started 11 out of 13 games at defensive tackle, leading the team’s interior linemen in defensive snaps and contributing 17 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, and one sack.
Venables praised Lacey’s contributions, highlighting his attention to detail and fundamental play, which significantly impacted the team’s defensive performance. Lacey’s ability to play last season was unexpected given his prior struggle with blood clots, which cast doubt on his future in football. Despite these challenges, Lacey returned to the field earlier than anticipated and played in all but one regular-season game.
With Lacey’s retirement, Oklahoma faces uncertainty at the defensive tackle position heading into spring practices. Da’Jon Terry, another former transfer returning for a sixth season, is a potential candidate to fill the void. Additionally, players like Gracen Halton, a junior, and freshmen such as David Stone and Jayden Jackson may see increased roles in the defense.
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