The defensive secondary – cornerbacks, safeties and sometimes a fifth member of the secondary known as a nickel back – is the last line of defense in a football game, and there have been some outstanding players at that position in Oklahoma Sooner football history.
Narrowing the list to the five greatest defensive backs all-time at Oklahoma is an exceedingly tough task, but we’ve made it a little less complex by defining all-time as 1950 to the present. Even then, the five we have identified as the best of the best in the Sooner secondary all played in the 1970s and later.
This is not to say that there were not any standout defensive backs in the 1950s and 1960s who played football at Oklahoma. The truth of the matter is that platoon football and specialization was not nearly as prevalent then as it is today. It was not uncommon for the best players on the field to play both ways – on offense as well as defense. In addition to that, defensive players were not valued as highly or given the same notoriety as the skill positions on offense that touched the ball most frequently and could score points.
Regardless, these are the five players we consider to be the best defensive backs in modern Oklahoma football history. Agree or disagree with me. I welcome your comments.:
Next: Ricky Dixon, CB, 1984-87