Oklahoma DB Gentry Williams Won’t Play Against Alabama in the CFP

On Sunday, Oklahoma Sooners' head coach Brent Venables spoke to the media for the Sooners, revealing the injury statuses of three key players for Oklahoma in its first-round playoff game against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Get our free mobile app

Oklahoma will be down a co-starter at cornerback defensively, while the status of key pass rusher R Mason Thomas is still unknown with 12 days until the rematch of the college football titans in Norman, Oklahoma.

"Gentry had shoulder surgery, so he'll be out," Venables told Oklahoma reporters on Sunday. "And we'll see on (R Mason Thomas). ... R Mason Thomas is one of the more explosive defensive players in the country."

Williams, a 5-foot-11, 187-pound redshirt junior from Tulsa, Oklahoma, has been dealing with injuries all season long for the Sooners after missing 10 games last season for Oklahoma with an injury. Williams has totaled just 10 tackles and two pass breakups in four games played in 2025, and has not appeared in a game since Oklahoma's 23-6 loss to Texas.

Mason Thomas, a 6-foot-2, 249-pound defensive lineman from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, suffered a lower-body injury during the Sooners' 33-27 victory over Tennessee, and has not played since that win over the Volunteers. He has totaled 23 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery (returned for a touchdown against Tennessee).

Oklahoma didn't need Mason Thomas or Williams during the November 15 upset over Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Sooners sacked Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson four times, had five tackles for loss, and recovered two fumbles against Alabama. The Crimson Tide put the ball on the ground three times in the 23-21 loss to Oklahoma. Sooner defensive back Eli Bowen also had an 87-yard pick-six on Simpson in the first half.

Alabama will face Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff in Norman, Oklahoma, on Friday, December 19, at 7:00 p.m. CT.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.