Oklahoma Lands CB From Transfer Portal
On Sunday morning, Oklahoma strengthened its defensive back room, picking up a commitment from veteran cornerback Dezjhon Malone.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Malone has good size and started 12 games for the Aztecs this season, earning Mountain West Honorable Mention honors for the second consecutive year. In two seasons, he has made 23 consecutive starts.
Since entering the portal, Malone had also picked up offers from Louisville, Houston, West Virginia, Purdue and Michigan State.
With the Sooners losing multiple defensive backs to graduation and the transfer portal in addition to cornerback being one of the weak spots on OU's 2023 roster due to recurring injuries to Gentry Williams and Kani Walker, Jay Valai and company needed to add more depth at corner before heading into the SEC next season.
Senior Woodi Washington is expected to leave for the NFL, leaving the Sooners with three experienced players behind Williams and Walker who got playing time as true freshmen in 2023: Makari Vickers, Jasaiah Wagoner and Jacobe Johnson. Junior college transfer Kendel Dolby played cornerback this season as well, logging valuable snaps at slot corner/cheetah linebacker. Sophomore Jayden Rowe is coming off a knee injury and could be ready to compete in spring practice.
As a redshirt junior in 2023, Malone recorded 49 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, seven pass breakups, one interception and one forced fumble. In 2022, Malone had 45 tackles and grabbed three interceptions according to Pro Football Focus. In two seasons, he made 86 tackles.
Malone played 692 snaps on defense this season, second on the team, according to PFF, and posted an overall PFF grade of 71.8, including 71.9 in coverage. He got 627 snaps at corner, allowed only 286 total yards receiving in 2023, a completion percentage of just 48.1 on 52 targets, and an NFL efficiency rating of just 63.5. Also, Malone missed just nine tackles all season.
On 53 targets in 2022, Malone's opponents completion percentage was 56.6 and his efficiency rating was 61.7.
In two seasons as the Aztecs' starter, he played 1,150 snaps, allowed just 55 receptions (only three TDs) and missed just 17 tackles.
Hailing from Fresno, CA, the same hometown as former Sooners’ linebacker and current S.O.U.L Mission Director Caleb Kelly, Malone was a 3-star recruit.
The talented defensive back is Oklahoma’s second addition of the cycle through the transfer portal, as OU landed a commitment from former Michigan State offensive lineman Spencer Brown earlier this week.
- Follow AllSooners on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest OU news!
- Want even more Sooners news? Check out the SI.com OU team page here!
- Listen and subscribe to the AllSooners Podcast!
- Listen and subscribe to the AllSooners Podcast!
- Watch more Sooners videos and subscribe on YouTube!
- Sign up for your premium membership to AllSooners.com today, and get access to the entire Fan Nation premium network!
