Oklahoma football: Safety situation becomes more clear
The safety situation for Oklahoma football appears to have gone from a wide-open compeititon to two guys emerging from the pack, according to defensive coordinator Alex Grinch.
Grinch told reporters this week that Patrick Fields and Delarrin Turner-Yell look like the clear favorites to take over the two safety positions come week one against Houston.
Fields and Turner-Yell separated themselves from the pack during spring football, but the door was left open for younger players and those out with injury to come in and compete for the starting job in fall camp, but according to Grinch it seems like the safety duo has continued to pull away from the field.
Grinch told 247 sports:
“I’d like there to be more competition at this point, but those guys (Fields and Turner-Yell) have done a nice job picking up from where they left off in camp and are continuing on.”
Fields is a 6-foot, 196-pound sophomore who projects as the free safety. He played in six games last year, but has yet to start a contest for the Sooners. He got high praise for his effort in the College Football Playoff game against Alabama when he had to come in for an injured Justin Broiles. He recorded a career-high eight tackles and helped the Sooners close the 28-point gap down to two scores in the fourth quarter.
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Turner-Yell is a 5-foot-10, 193-pound sophomore who is going to play the strong safety position. Known for his hard hitting in practice, Turner-Yell plays bigger than his frame and will be a key asset coming up to help stop the run as well as enforcing the middle of the field in zone coverage.
He came on strong the second half of the season after missing the first six games due to injury, finishing with 12 total tackles and one pass broken up.
While neither player’s stats jump off the page from 2018, it’s worth noting both managed to to carve out enough playing time as true freshmen to not be eligible for the four-game redshirt rule.
Both players have taken a jump both physically and mentally in camp according to coaches and hope to finally bring some consistency back to the Sooners’ secondary.
The other three secondary positions also appear to be shaking out as planned with Parnell Motley and Tre Brown looking like the clear No. 1 guys at corner and Brendan Radley-Hiles emerging as the favorite to take the nickel spot.