Stormin in Norman
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Ten Most Indispensable Oklahoma Football Players in 2016

By Chip Rouse

Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;Clemson Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners line up in the first quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;Clemson Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners line up in the first quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 21, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners safety Steven Parker (10) deflects the pass attempt by TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Bram Kohlhausen (6) on a two point conversion try during the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners safety Steven Parker (10) deflects the pass attempt by TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Bram Kohlhausen (6) on a two point conversion try during the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

The Sooners’ Last Line of Defense Is a Good One With Steven Parker Playing Center Field

Junior safety Steven Parker is a member of an Oklahoma defensive backfield that college football expert Phil Steele rates as the best in the Big 12 and the fourth best in the country.

Parker started all 13 games for the Sooners in 2015, mostly but not exclusively at strong safety. He made 60 tackles a year ago, twice his output from his freshman season, when he was named Big 12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.

The Oklahoma native had one of the most outstanding plays of the season in 2015 when he batted down a TCU pass attempt on a two-point conversion that would have given the Horned Frogs a come-from-behind one-point win over the Sooners and quite likely would have kept them out of the College Football Playoff.

The dual presence of Parker and teammate Ahmad Thomas at the back end of the Oklahoma defense will be a major factor with the Sooners’ youth and inexperience at linebacker this season.

Next: Senior Jordan Thomas Keys an Unproven Linebacker Group

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