Newcomer Profile: Why Oklahoma DB Jocelyn Malaska is Excited to 'Come Back Home'
NORMAN — Coming out of high school, former Bethany (OK) defensive back Jocelyn Malaska had very little experience playing football.
Moving from Haiti to the United State in middle school, the versatile cornerback had only played the game for a few years, while most high school players have grown up with a football in-hand since early elementary school.
Still, Malaska's athleticism was evident and helped the Bronchos' standout earn a 3-star rating from 247Sports and more than 10 scholarship offers from programs around the country.
After originally committing to Texas Tech, Malaska backed off of his pledge and chose to attend the University of Utah, a school with a reputation for developing underrated defensive prospects like Jaylon Johnson, Julian Blackmon, Devin Lloyd and Marcus Williams, among others.
"I feel like overall I’ve learned a lot because coming out of high school I didn’t really know much because I didn’t get the best coaching," Malaska said at Oklahoma's spring media day on March 6. "Going to a program like Utah where it’s develop, develop, develop, helped me a lot knowing myself as a person but also a football player."
In his two-year stint with the Utes, Malaska played 30 total snaps, all coming on special teams. In 2023, the promising athlete tallied nine snaps on the Utah punt return team, five snaps on kickoff coverage and five snaps on the Utes' kickoff coverage team.
Pro Football Focus gave Malaska a 63.1 special teams grade for his efforts last season.
After transferring to Oklahoma as a preferred walk-on over the offseason, the former Utes cornerback said that he is ready to compete at OU and is willing to do whatever he is asked to help the team succeed.
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Malaska said that he hit 38 inches in the vertical jump, 10-feet, 9-nine inches in the broad jump and ran a 4.4 40-yard dash during winter testing in Norman.
With elite athleticism, the former OKPreps standout will be able to help the Sooners on special teams and provide depth in cornerback room. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds, Malaska also has the size to compete with SEC wide receivers.
"Whatever the team needs, I’m willing to do it," Malaska said. "So anywhere I can add value, I’m willing to do it. It doesn’t matter which way."
The older brother of 2026 OU offer Evenson Malaska, Jocelyn added that he is excited to return to his home state, and that the Sooners' proximity to home was a big factor in his decision.
Malaska also mentioned that Brent Venables being a defensive-minded head coach was another important aspect of his transfer to Oklahoma.
"It feels amazing, back at home," he said. "… It definitely did (factor into the decision). I wanted to come back home, being able to spend more time with my family. So that was definitely a big reason why.
“Venables being a defensive coach also played a part, he said.
"Definitely did," Malaska said, "just because I know his mindset is mainly defense and also winning, so that was a big reason why (he came to OU).”
Malaska also said that the Sooners' cornerback room has become very close under position coach Jay Valai, adding that the group loves to joke with one another and play basketball together.
With the additions of Malaska and San Diego State transfer Dez Malone, Valai's room should have solid depth behind returning starters Woodi Washington and Gentry Williams in 2024.
Oklahoma will need to have more consistent play out of its cornerbacks as the program transitions into the SEC, and Malaska believes that his position group, and OU's team as a whole, is prepared to prove their doubters wrong in 2024.
When asked what games he was looking forward to next season, the redshirt sophomore gave a very mature, yet confident answer.
"All of them," Malaska said. "Just going out there and showing the world that Oklahoma can get it done."
Entering his first spring session in Norman, Malaska will have the opportunity to help the Sooners on special teams or as a depth piece in the defensive backfield. With his length and speed, the Bethany product should provide even more "competitive depth" on OU's defense.
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