Oklahoma 2023 Report Cards: Led By Veterans, Safeties Carried the Load in the Secondary
It was an up and down season for the Oklahoma secondary, with solid improvement from Brent Venables’ first year as head coach. The Sooners’ pass defense was somewhat inconsistent, but much better than it has looked in years past.
The biggest reason for success in the secondary was Billy Bowman — who was arguably the best player on the team this year. Bowman ended up being a Jim Thorpe Award snub and was consistently an anchor in Oklahoma’s defense. He totaled 63 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, and four pass deflections. Those numbers alone would be very solid, but he added a few game changing plays.
Bowman recorded a team-high six interceptions and returned three of those for touchdowns. In a one-score game at BYU, where the Sooners narrowly escaped 31-24, his touchdown sealed the deal. The Denton, TX, native was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and received Thorpe Award National DB of the Week honors, but received no recognition for the national award.
A good demonstration of just how valuable Bowman was to this Sooners team was his snap count. He logged 781 total snaps on defense, on the field for nearly every play. The next highest count for a safety was 418. He graded out as a 66.9 overall on defense, with a 72.5 pass rush grade and a 69.5 in coverage via PFF.
Bowman also gave the Sooners some of their best offseason news. The rising senior announced his return for one more year in Norman, foregoing the NFL Draft and anchoring Oklahoma’s defense heading into the SEC.
He was clearly one of the game-changing players on the Oklahoma roster. Outside of Bowman at defensive back, there seemed to be a handful of veterans trying to find their footing and a few young guys ready to break out.
NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK
Reggie Pearson and Key Lawrence gave the Sooners experience in the secondary. The pair struggled in coverage at times but provided solid depth and support in the run game. Pearson recorded 30 total tackles, 3.5 for loss, and 1.0 sack in his lone season after transferring from Texas Tech. He also snagged an interception. Lawrence racked up 44 tackles, 4.0 for loss, and two interceptions.
Both Pearson and Lawrence are set to move on, as Pearson is out of eligibility and Lawrence transferred to Ole Miss for his final year. The duo’s exit should open up the floor for two of Oklahoma’s most talented youngsters to step up and shine.
Peyton Bowen and Robert Spears-Jennings played in nearly every game down the stretch and continued to find ways to stand out. As a true freshman, Bowen looked like a potential star and had a handful of "wow" moments. He recorded 36 total tackles, a sack, and five pass breakups, which was good for second on the team behind cornerback Woodi Washington. There’s a reason why Brent Venables was so excited to land the 5-star on the recruiting trail.
2023 Oklahoma Report Cards
- Jan. 9: Offensive line
- Jan. 10: Defensive end
- Jan. 11: Wide receiver
- Jan. 12: Defensive tackle
- Jan. 13: Tight end
- Jan. 14: Linebacker
- Jan. 15: Running back
- Jan. 16: Defensive back
- Jan. 17: Special teams
- Jan. 18: Cornerback
- Jan. 19: Quarterback
- Jan. 20: Coaches
Spears-Jennings made an impact on special team and in the secondary as a head hunter. He played like lightning in a bottle all season long. The sophomore totaled 38 tackles and one tackle for loss.
In addition to Bowman returning, Bowen and Spears-Jennings will be back, too. The young duo will play a huge part in Oklahoma’s defense next season and give reason for excitement.
At cheetah, a signature position in Venables’ defenses, the Sooners tried a handful of options. None of the options were bad, but nothing was really able to stick. After Justin Harrington went down early on with a season-ending injury, it was a committee of players that ended up replacing him.
Linebacker Dasan McCollough had a successful first season in Norman and seemed to get more comfortable as the season wore on after transferring from Indiana. With more reps, he’ll continue to get better in pass coverage too. He had 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and three pass deflections. He’s the most obvious long-term option at the cheetah spot, but will have to be quick enough to stick with speedy SEC wide receivers. His build is ideal to play the position, though, and his improvement was noticeable.
McCollough graded out as the highest PFF-ranked member of the cheetah group, recording a 79.5 overall and an impressive 88.3 in coverage.
AllSooners DB Grades
- Hoover: A-
- Chapman: B+
- Sweet: B
- Lovelace: B+
Cornerback Kendel Dolby also got plenty of reps at cheetah and played well. He began at the corner position, moved inside and ended up being a plug-and-play guy anywhere the defense needed him. He was a bright spot for the Sooners with 49 total tackles, 5.0 for loss, 2.0 sacks and two interceptions, and ended up being one of the most versatile defensive players the Sooners had. He’ll return for another season, too.
In limited snaps, linebacker Samuel Omosigho also carved out time at cheetah. He didn’t play enough to qualify for a PFF ranking, but in the small sample size of field time he got, he would’ve been the second-highest graded Oklahoma safety behind McCullough. Omosigho earned a 72.5 grade on overall defense and a 71.6 in coverage.
The good news for Oklahoma is the bulk of the talent at the safety spot will be returning in 2024. The defensive backs, including the cheetah position, should be a strength of next year's team.
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