Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Four who missed out the most on spring practice

By Chip Rouse

NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 07: A general view of Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium before the football game between the South Dakota Coyotes and Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 07: A general view of Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium before the football game between the South Dakota Coyotes and Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 29: Josh Jacobs #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide carries the ball in the defense of Robert Barnes #20 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 29: Josh Jacobs #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide carries the ball in the defense of Robert Barnes #20 of the Oklahoma Sooners during the College Football Playoff Semifinal against the Alabama Crimson Tide at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on December 29, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Robert Barnes

Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch wants to move redshirt junior Robert Barnes from safety to linebacker to give the Sooners more depth at that position. The beginning of that process was to take place this spring, but without spring practice that process is now delayed until the fall.

Barnes was a five- or four-star defensive back prospect in the Sooners 2017 recruiting class. He started eight games at safety for Oklahoma in 2018, but sustained an injury against in OU’s College Football Playoff semifinal game against Alabama.

He made four starts in the 2019 season, but did not play at all in Oklahoma’s final nine games and was able to qualify for a redshirt year.

The Sooner coaches believe that Barnes’ has the size, skills and agility to play at linebacker, and he also has it in his family tree. This spring is when they were going to begin that transition in hopes that it could help the Sooner defense and be beneficial to Barnes as well.

Barnes is the son of former Oklahoma linebacker Reggie Barnes (1989-92).

Home/OU Football