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Lincoln Riley: Woodi Washington Out 'A Significant Time,' Billy Bowman is Back

After two starters sat out with injury against Nebraska, the Sooner secondary could be something that gets reevaluated each week, defensive coordinator Alex Grinch says.
John E. Hoover|
Lincoln Riley: Woodi Washington Out 'A Significant Time,' Billy Bowman is Back
Lincoln Riley: Woodi Washington Out 'A Significant Time,' Billy Bowman is Back

Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley offered an update on two defensive starters who missed last week's game against Nebraska.

Nickel safety Billy Bowman is expected to return for this week's Big 12 Conference opener against West Virginia, Riley said, but the news wasn't so good for cornerback Woodi Washington.

"His injury will be some significant time," Riley said of Washington. "But we hope to see him back this season."

Washington took over the starting job late last season and emerged as a shutdown threat. 

Without Washington, the Sooners last week went to a steady rotation of Jaden Davis, Latrell McCutchin, D.J. Graham and Josh Eaton. 

At nickel, Bowman has alternated with Jeremiah Criddell, who also has missed time after a preseason injury this season. Against Nebraska, OU went almost exclusively with senior Justin Broiles at nickel.

Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch said Tuesday that the defensive backfield is being constantly evaluated and players could switch positions at any time.

"We’ve talked before about trying to play the best five guys between the safeties, nickels and corners," Grinch said. "Whether they’re healthy or not, (it's) something we’re always evaluating. This time last year ... I think Woodi was still a safety. Then we moved him to the cornerback role. Tre Norwood at this point last year was still rotating a bit at corner (before shifting to nickel). 

"That’s something that goes on during the course of the season. Something we’ll continue to look at. Have had some young guys who have held up OK but need more production from the positions. Long and short of it, we’ll continue to evaluate it."

Although Riley wasn't asked specifically about linebacker Danny Stutsman's availability — he left the Western Carolina game with an elbow injury — it's believed he probably won't be available this week but could return soon.

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John E. Hoover
JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

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