NORMAN — Oklahoma received more good news in regards to roster retention on Thursday.

Defensive lineman Gracen Halton, an incoming senior, announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he will return to Norman for the 2025 season.

Halton has been a key contributor for the Sooners since 2022, his true freshman season.

In his first season at OU, Halton played in 10 games, recording 10 tackles and one tackle for loss. Halton’s role expanded in 2023, as he logged 11 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in 11 games.

And in 2024, Halton played his best football as a college defensive lineman.

Playing all 13 games and starting two of them, Halton finished his junior campaign with 30 tackles, 17 solo tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles. One of his fumbles was recovered by R Mason Thomas for a touchdown in the Sooners’ loss to LSU on Nov. 30.

A native of San Diego, Halton came to OU as a highly-touted prospect. The consensus 4-star recruit was rated as the No. 19 defensive end in the Class of 2022 by Rivals, and he chose the Sooners over offers from Oregon, USC and Miami (FL).

Halton’s return announcement comes after several other key Sooner defenders announced their intentions to return to Norman for 2025.

Linebacker Kip Lewis, defensive end R Mason Thomas, safety Robert Spears-Jennings, linebacker/cornerback Kendel Dolby and defensive tackle Damonic Williams have all announced that they’ll come back in 2025, too.

That group, plus a few others expected to return — linebacker Kobie McKinzie, linebacker Sammy Omosigho, safety Peyton Bowen, cornerback Eli Bowen, defensive tackle Jayden Jackson, cornerback Jacobe Johnson, linebacker Jaren Kanak and defensive tackles David Stone and P.J. Adebawore — give Brent Venables and his new defensive coordinator a firm foundation to build upon for the upcoming season.