Dasan McCullough’s path to the field this season has been a challenging one. Throughout the offseason, he faced various nagging injuries, culminating in a serious setback just before preseason camp: a fractured foot.
“It happened during a team run at the end of July,” McCullough recalled. “As I was finishing, I felt a pop in my foot, which resulted in a stress fracture. It was a long recovery process that involved a lot of healing and inactivity. During that time, I focused on strengthening my upper body and improving my football knowledge through film study.”
Returning to the field has been a lengthy and difficult journey for McCullough, both physically and mentally, as he was eager to contribute to his teammates. After a long wait, he made his debut in the Red River Rivalry game last Saturday. Though he recorded one tackle in 26 snaps, he acknowledged that he still had some rust to shake off against the top-ranked team.
“I felt like I could have performed better,” McCullough admitted about his game. “I was a bit timid and didn’t trigger when I should have, but these are all fixable issues that I’ll address immediately this week.”
During his recovery from the foot injury, McCullough was unable to engage in any physical activities, which was a tough adjustment for an athlete. He leaned heavily on his family for support, especially his brother Daeh, who was also dealing with an injury.
“My family really helped me through this time,” he said. “My dad has been through similar challenges with multiple ACL injuries, so having their support made it easier to stay focused on my recovery.”
With Kendel Dolby out for the season, McCullough’s return will be crucial for the Cheetah position on the defense. Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables emphasized the importance of McCullough’s comeback, noting that he brings valuable skills to the team. “It’s great to have him back with his teammates and in a rhythm. He showed some good things, but there’s still room for growth. We’re going to need him.”
