Oklahoma has inexperience at defensive tackle, linebacker and in the secondary. Especially in the Big 12, the cornerback position is crucial to defensive success and all eyes Saturday night will be on two new guys playing on the islands for the Sooners.
Oklahoma Defensive Secondary Two Deep
| Jamell Fleming | DE | DT | DT | DE | Demontre Hurst | ||||||
| Gabe Lynn | OLB | MLB | OLB | Aaron Colvin | |||||||
| Jonathan Nelson | Quinton Carter | ||||||||||
| Javon Harris | Sam Proctor |
Jamell Fleming has spent most of his career at OU playing special teams but also appeared in three games last season as a corner during mop up duty time. He draws the responsibility of playing the boundary side corner position that was played by Brian Jackson last season. Demontre Hurst takes over for the departed Dominique Franks as Oklahoma's new field side corner which means he'll draw more assignments against the opponent's top guys. Like Fleming, Hurst was also a special teams player last season.
At the safety positions Oklahoma has both experience and depth. Quinton Carter was all Big 12 second team last season after recording 88 tackles and 4 interceptions. He's a headhunter that is always looking to dislodge someone from the ball.
Jonathan Nelson moved into the starting lineup for the final three games of last season and recorded a total of 46 tackles for the year. The nickel back position is going to be a rotation of Joseph Ibiloye and freshman Tony Jefferson. Ibiloye is a hybrid linebacker/defensive back who'll play both positions this season and Jefferson is a freshman who is pushing his way into playing time.