Transfer DB Reggie Pearson Still Adjusting to New Standard at Oklahoma

Oklahoma safety Reggie Pearson is mindful not to take things for granted, even though he played in 41 games over two seasons at Texas Tech and parts of three seasons at Wisconsin.

Sooners coach Brent Venables won't let him.

"When you come in as a transfer, you feel that sense of being a guy and when you come in, they see me as this guy," Pearson said last week. "BV holds you to a higher standard. You feel like you come in as a freshman. That’s the best thing that I had to counter with when I got here."

Pearson, a 5-foot-10, 198-pound redshirt senior, started 20 games at Texas Tech and 14 games at Wisconsin, including 13 games in 2019.

His reputation as a hard hitter can be confirmed by Sooners quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who was leveled by Pearson after catching a pass against Texas Tech last season.

"Just playing for so long, you kind of get this sense of comfort within playing football in college and get this understanding of how fast the game goes and the defense and the relationships that come with it," Pearson said. "But here, you have to kind of build it and restart it from the beginning. It’s special since I’ve got here. I’ve appreciated every moment, every practice."

Defensive coordinator Ted Roof said he is pleased with Pearson's progress but added there is room for improvement.

“He’s a guy that’s got a lot of experience, albeit at a different school," Roof said. "But a guy that’s very prideful in how he works and how he prepares and how he gets ready to come to the practice field. We’re pleased with Reggie. But again, he’s got things in his game he needs to work on and he’s doing that.”

Pearson, who hails from Detroit and was a 3-star prospect coming out of River Rouge High School, credits Venables and safeties coach Brandon Hall for helping him stay humble and focused.

"They do the exact job that I would want any coach to do for me and hold me at the standard that I want them to," Pearson said. "I don’t want anyone to give me any sense of entitlement. I’m that freshmen that just came in even if I am a fourth-year transfer, so I get used to keeping myself to that standard."

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