Who Will Start at Safety for Oklahoma Next Season Alongside Peyton Bowen?

Michael Boganowski has a chance to make another significantly leap in 2026

Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Michael Boganowski (25) brings down LSU running back Harlem Berry (22) at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. Oklahoma won 17-13. | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Oklahoma Sooners

NORMAN — Peyton Bowen didn’t miss any games as a sophomore in 2023.

But the Oklahoma safety was limited, playing less than 20 plays in four games

Back to being 100% healthy in 2025, Bowen was a big piece of the Sooners’ defense.

Bowen was the Sooners highest-graded defensive back last season according to Pro Football Focus, grading out at 78.2.

“What an impact that he’s had this year, leadership,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said. “Couldn’t lead a year ago. … He’s always been a great human being, but he wasn’t able to lead. He has been an assassin. I think he learned a lot from Billy (Bowman), he and RJ together, they bring out the best in each other.”

Bowen tied for the team high in interceptions with two, including a key one he returned 37 yards against Tennessee. He finished with 47 tackles.

Bowen figures to be a major part of the Sooners’ defense again in 2026 as the only returning starter at safety.

In the latest post-portal depth-chart projection, we take a look at OU’s safeties.

Read More Oklahoma Post-Portal Depth-Chart Projections

On the opposite side of Bowen figures to be junior Michael Boganowski.

Boganowski made his way into the rotation last season, playing 245 snaps in the secondary after playing less than 70 in 2024.

Omarion Robinson has a chance to make a similar leap to what Boganowski and Jaydan Hardy made last season.

Robinson played 36 plays in five games defensively last season, though became a regular on special teams as the season went on.

If Robinson can make that leap, it would go a long way toward giving the Sooners depth at the position.

Hardy figured to be a bigger part of the rotation next season after playing 163 plays in 2025, but instead transferred to Colorado following the season.

The most likely freshman to see time at safety in 2026 is perhaps Markel Ford.

Though Ford played primarily cornerback as a senior at Mesquite (Texas) Horn, he figures to be a safety at OU.

“I see him as a safety,” Sooners’ general manager Jim Nagy said of Ford. “But he does have really nice man coverage skills for a safety.”

Niko Jandreau was Oklahoma’s other signee at safety.

Reggie Powers III could also see time at safety, though he’s likely to be the starter at cheetah.

Projected Safety Depth Chart

Starters: Peyton Bowen, Sr. (SS); Michael Boganowski, Jr. (FS)
Backups: Reggie Powers III, Jr.; Omarion Robinson, So.

Published 9 hours ago

Ryan Aber

Ryan Aber has been covering Oklahoma football for more than a decade continuously and since 1999 overall. Ryan was the OU beat writer for The Oklahoman from 2013-2025, covering the transition from Bob Stoops to Lincoln Riley to Brent Venables. He covered OU men's basketball's run to the Final Four in 2016 and numerous national championships for the Sooners' women's gymnastics and softball programs. Prior to taking on the Sooners beat, Ryan covered high schools, the Oklahoma City RedHawks and Oklahoma City Barons for the newspaper from 2006-13. He spent two seasons covering Arkansas football for the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas before returning to his hometown of Oklahoma City. Ryan also worked at the Southwest Times Record in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the Muskogee Phoenix. At the Phoenix, he covered OU's national championship run in 2000. Ryan is a graduate of Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.