Oklahoma football: Which OU defenders could end up switching positions under Alex Grinch

Ronnie Perkins

Ronnie Perkins is a mega-talented player who pushed his way onto the field as a true freshman, but it seemed at times that the 6-foot-3, 254-pounder was being forced into a role that didn’t maximize his skillset.

The Sooners employed Perkins in the “Jack” spot for much of the year. The same position they had previously filled with the likes of Obo Okoronkwo and Eric Striker. While Perkins certainly a talented athlete, he might be better served to put on a few pounds and move to a more traditional hand-on-the-ground defensive end position in Grinch’s scheme. With a one-gap responsibility, he would be able to use his athleticism to create mismatches with slower offensive linemen and still have the power to take on blocks and blow them up.

Tre Norwood

The soon-to-be junior has had a rocky ride so far through his Sooner career. He stepped in for Jordan Thomas as a true freshman to much acclaim but suffered a series of setbacks last season that saw him eventually lose his starting cornerback job to Tre Brown. However, he ended the year on a relatively high note by moving to safety and becoming an impact player there.

Now the question with a full offseason to figure things out is, where does Norwood best fit? Will he be a safety or a cornerback next year under Grinch and new defensive backs coach Roy Manning? From watching a few of Grinch’s past defenses the nickel position will be less of safety and more of a corner than it has been in past years.

The Sooners are also thin on the back end of the defense at both free and strong safety, both places Norwood could help out. Hopefully, for both Norwood and the Sooners they find where his skills fit best.