The Oklahoma Sooners' safety group was a strength last year. Can it be even better in 2025?
If Oklahoma is going to improve on its 6-7 record from last season, the Sooners' offense must turn things around, and the defense could certainly use another season like last year. Brent Venables has created a homegrown defense in Norman, led by a safety room that may be the deepest unit on the defense.
The Sooners Wire offseason positional preview continues with a look at the secondary, where Oklahoma has to replace one of the best safeties the team has had in the 21st century in Billy Bowman Jr.
On paper, potential abounds. Robert Spears-Jennnings led all OU defensive backs in tackles last year, and Peyton Bowen should slide seamlessly into starting right next to him after a solid sophomore year. A pair of sophomores should dot the second team, and a duo of freshmen from the state of Arkansas provides a bright future at the position.
Here's a look at what the depth chart should look like.
Starter: Robert Spears-Jennings - Senior
It was a bit of a surprise that Spears-Jennings didn’t make any of the three preseason All-SEC teams at SEC media days last month. He started 11 of the team’s 13 games last year and logged 66 tackles, including five for loss, along with 2 1/2 sacks and an interception. He’s the most experienced safety on the Sooners’ roster, and if no one should be surprised if that preseason All-SEC snub turns around after the season.
Starter: Peyton Bowen - Junior
Two years of solid play for Bowen in his freshman and sophomore seasons have set him up for a potential breakout year as a junior. Bowen played in the team’s 13 games each of the previous two years, including five starts last year. That kind of experience, with his 70 total tackles, should have him well-prepared to play alongside Spears-Jennings in the Sooners' backfield.
Reserve: Jaydan Hardy - Sophomore
A year younger than Bowen, Hardy looks to be on the same eventual track. He played all 13 games last year, and while he registered just six tackles, mainly in a special teams role, a boost to the second unit should lead to more time in SEC games. Venables has spoken highly of the Lewisville, Texas product and he'll be a playmaker for the Sooners defense.
Reserve: Michael Boganowski - Sophomore
One could take the blurb about Hardy and reprint it here. Boganowski had nearly the same season, save Hardy’s interception, whereas Boganowski didn’t have one. He did have two more tackles, and with time in every game, he slots right into the reserve role on the second team. And as a former four-star prospect and linebacker, he brings heavy-hitting potential in the backfield.
Third-team: Omarion Robinson - Freshman
First-year freshmen often have a hard time finding the field, which is about the only reason Robinson is this low. His potential is through the roof as he enters his first season of college football as the No. 51 recruit in the nation (according to Rivals). After turning down offers from his home-state school of Arkansas, LSU, and Oregon, Oklahoma should have a good one on its hands in future years.
Robinson earned praise from Brent Venables at SEC media days and believes the true freshman could play a role for the Sooners in 2025.
Third-team: Marcus Wimberly - Freshman
Incidentally, much the way Bowen and Boganowski are similar, so are Robinson’s and Wimberley’s. Another Arkansas true freshman, Wimberly, also turned down Oregon and Arkansas to play in Norman. His small high school didn’t quite provide the same competition as Robinson faced, so it may take him a bit more adjustment time, but the future appears bright.
Wimberly was seen in a sling as fall camp practice, so his availability is in question for the start of the 2025 season.
Wild Card: Reggie Powers III
Reggie Powers III has been getting a lot of time at cheetah, but the coaching staff really likes him at strong safety as well. He's an athletic player who can cover well. He could see time with the first-team defense at multiple positions. It also depends on if they prefer a lineup that has Powers at safety with Kendal Daniels at cheetah or Powers at cheetah with Bowen at safety.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners safeties depth chart breakdown
Category: General Sports
