2019 Position Preview: Defensive Backs

The OU secondary returns virtually intact from 2018, with 11 of the 12 members who saw the field back for 2019 (they combined for 55 starts last year). The only departure was safety Kahlil Haughton (seven starts and 50 tackles). The Sooners' defensive backfield produced only five interceptions and forced just one fumble last season, stats that new defensive coordinator Alex Grinch and cornerbacks coach Roy Manning will look to increase dramatically. Several highly regarded newcomers could help in that regard.

"I would say there's constant improvement," said Grinch this past weekend. "One of the signs of constant improvement is that the bad plays actually look worse, because they stand out so much more. That's what we're finding right now. We're where we need to be, when we need to be there, more so than we've ever been. That's how it should be as you go through practice. I think from a communication standpoint, that's a big piece of this, making sure everyone is on the same page. Guys are attempting to play fast, which is another critical piece of this thing. Hopefully we can generate a little bit more competition as we transition through fall camp."

Manning has also been pleased with his guys' progress since spring.

"I love the effort," said Manning. "We're going to start there and end there. This is a speed defense and that's what they're going to be graded on every day. Effort, effort, effort. We'll clean up everything and make corrections, but we're not going to waver on effort. As a group, I feel like we've really taken a step. I feel like we're growing. When the ball comes to us and when the ball is away, it doesn't make a difference.

"Those guys are focusing on their technique and what happens is the more guys you get doing that in the group, the more the standard in the room raises. Guys are being more accountable to our technique, to the standard and that continues to raise the bar. Two weeks until our first game but it doesn't stop there. We have to keep improving each and every week."

Lettermen Returning

Pat Fields

Parnell Motley (Sr.) – Has started 21 games the last two seasons at cornerback ... a 2018 honorable mention All-Big 12 selection by league coaches ... played in all 14 games and made eight starts ... led team with three interceptions while ranking second with 11 pass breakups and third with 63 tackles ... has five career interceptions to lead current Sooners.
Jordan Parker (R-Jr.) – Played in seven games in 2018 with one start at safety (missed last four games because of injury) ... made eight tackles ... missed all but first game in 2017 due to injury ... started eight of his 10 games at cornerback in 2016 and registered 36 tackles.
Chanse Sylvie (R-Jr.) – Missed first 13 games of 2018 due to injury but saw action against Alabama in College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl ... played in 25 games over the 2016 and 2017 seasons and made 20 tackles.
Robert Barnes (Jr.) – Played in 11 games in 2018 and started the last eight at safety ... missed spring practice due to injury ... registered 54 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble ... played in 10 games with one start in 2017 ... a five-star recruit by 247Sports out of high school.
Tre Brown (Jr.) – A 2018 second-team All-Big 12 selection as a kick returner who played in 13 games and made eight starts (last eight contests) ... led team with 12 pass breakups and tied for fifth with 58 tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss ... played in all 14 games in 2017.
Tre Norwood (Jr.) – Expected to miss 2019 season due to injury ... started each of OU's last 19 games (17 of those at cornerback) ... tied for fifth on team with 58 tackles in 2018 and registered five pass breakups and one interception ... logged 30 tackles in his 14 contests (five starts) in 2017.
Justin Broiles (R-So.) – Played in 11 games in 2018 (five starts at nickelback and safety) ... logged 24 tackles, 1.5 TFLs and two pass breakups ... did not play in season's last three games (injury) ... a consensus four-star recruit out of high school.
Pat Fields (So.) – Played in six games in 2018 (including three of last four) ... finished season with 13 tackles ... recorded a career-high eight stops (five solo) against No. 1 Alabama in College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Orange Bowl.
Brendan Radley-Hiles (So.) – Started 11 of his 13 games at strong safety and nickelback ... a midseason freshman All-American by ESPN ... totaled 39 tackles and five pass breakups ... rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals out of high school.
Delarrin Turner-Yell (So.) – Played in seven of last eight contests at safety in 2018 after missing first six due to injury ... made 12 tackles on the year ... a consensus three-star recruit out of high school.

Brown Says

"We're really working on technique and how consistent we can be. The young guys are doing a really good job of putting in the time, learning and doing what they're supposed to do. Coach Grinch is always telling us 11 men to the football and max effort. You have to have everybody getting to the football. If you're going to mess up, you have to mess up going 100%. Coach Manning is electric. He is a real good coach and he's loud in everything that he does and we're going to be an extension of that on the field. We're excited to get rolling."

Turner-Yell Says

"Everybody is growing. Everybody is doing a great job of improving on the things that they were struggling with early. We're all flying around to the ball making plays, and we're going to look very good this season. I've just been improving on my technique every day, just playing fast and being able to recognize different plays. If I'm recognizing plays it'll be easier for me to make more plays."

Non-Lettermen Returning

Robert Charlton (R-Sr.) – Redshirt senior out of Edmond Memorial High School in Edmond, Okla. ... Joined the Sooners after running track at OU for one season in 2017.
Starrland Baldwin (R-Fr.) – Did not play in 2018 due to preseason injury ... ranked as a four-star recruit by Rivals and a three-star prospect by 247Sports and ESPN out of high school.
Miguel Edwards (R-Fr.) – Redshirted in 2018 (played in four games and made five tackles) ... rated as a four-star recruit by ESPN and Rivals and a three-star prospect by 247Sports out of high school.
Caleb Murphy (R-Fr.) – Redshirted 2018 season ... compiled over 100 tackles, seven TFL, two interceptions and three sacks at Colleyville (Texas) Heritage High School.

Newcomers

Woodi Washington

Austin Jackson (R-Sr.) – Graduate transfer from Clemson ... played in a combined four games for Tigers after redshirting 2016 season ... played 2015 season at East Tennessee State, appearing in nine games and registering 32 tackles, two TFL and one fumble recovery.
Ryan Peoples (R-Fr.) – Walk-on out of Norman North High School ... originally signed to play at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M ... played quarterback in high school.
Jeremiah Criddell (Fr.) – Consensus four-star recruit and an Under Armour All-American ... rated the nation's No. 68 overall recruit and No. 5 safety by ESPN.
Jaden Davis (Fr.) – Consensus four-star recruit and an Under Armour All-American ... ranked as the nation's No. 176 overall recruit and 15th-best cornerback by ESPN.
Ty DeArman (Fr.) – Three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals ... touted as the country's No. 54 athlete by Rivals, No. 63 by 247Sports and No. 67 by ESPN.
Eric Gallegos (Fr.) – Walk-on who attended Heritage High School in Frisco, Texas ... compiled over 100 tackles and five interceptions during his junior and senior seasons.
Jamal Morris (Fr.) – Early enrollee ... a consensus four-star prospect and an Under Armour All-American ... rated as the No. 22 safety in the country by Rivals, No. 23 by ESPN and No. 32 by 247Sports.
Woodi Washington (Fr.) – Consensus four-star prospect ... the nation's No. 51 overall prospect by Rivals and No. 343 by 247Sports ... rated as the No. 7 cornerback in the country by Rivals.

Notes

All 10 returning lettermen appeared in at least one game each last season and five of them started at least eight games.
Both cornerback Tre Brown and safety Robert Barnes started the last eight games of 2018, combining for 112 tackles on the year. Brown registered a team-high 12 pass breakups last season, followed closely by Parnell Motley's 11.
Twenty-two players (eight upperclassmen and 14 underclassmen) combine to fill the cornerbacks and safeties rooms, providing substantial depth for the secondary.
The Sooners have four four-star newcomers on the roster this season in Jeremiah Criddell, Jaden Davis, Jamal Morris and Woodi Washington, and two others – Starrland Baldwin and Miguel Edwards – who redshirted in 2018.
Tre Norwood, who has started each of OU's last 19 games (17 of those at cornerback), is projected to miss the 2019 season due to an injury sustained in fall camp.