Oklahoma Football Recruiting: Sooners earn commitment from Tennessee DB Key Lawrence

After signing only one safety in its 2021 class, the Oklahoma Sooners were in need of some long-term help at the position entering this offseason. Fortunately, Alex Grinch has found his man in Tennessee transfer and former top-100 recruit Key Lawrence.

Lawrence, a highly-touted 2020 prospect out of Nashville’s Ensworth High School, was pursued by the Sooners during his original recruitment before eventually choosing the Tennessee Volunteers. He ended up playing in every single on of UT’s games as a true freshman, but the firing of Jeremy Pruitt forced him to reevaluate things (as was the case with fellow Vol transfer Wanya Morris). Oklahoma had a need and Lawrence fits the bill.

At 6’2 and 200 pounds, Lawrence has the physical attributes that Grinch is looking for in his position room. Additionally, the fact that eligibility was frozen in 2020 essentially means that he’ll be a true freshman once again in 2021, so this isn’t the typical band-aid situation that often applies when adding a transfer or JUCO product. In other words, he’s a viable long-term solution with loads of potential.

At the very least, Lawrence should provide some depth to his position group, but he’s talented enough to potentially challenge Patrick Fields for some snaps at free safety.