Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Ranking the top-5 Sooner DBs of modern era

By Chip Rouse

1 Jan 2001: Roy Williams #38 of the Oklahoma Sooners jumps to catch the ball as teammate J.T. Thatcher #15 and Robert Morgan #87 of the Florida State Seminoles are next to him during the Orange Bowl Game at the Pro Players Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Sooners defeated the Seminoles 13-2.Mandatory Credit: Eliot J. Schechter /Allsport
1 Jan 2001: Roy Williams #38 of the Oklahoma Sooners jumps to catch the ball as teammate J.T. Thatcher #15 and Robert Morgan #87 of the Florida State Seminoles are next to him during the Orange Bowl Game at the Pro Players Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Sooners defeated the Seminoles 13-2.Mandatory Credit: Eliot J. Schechter /Allsport /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
Safety Pat Fields #10, and offensive lineman Marcus Alexander #74 of the Oklahoma Sooners run onto the field for a game against the TCU Horned Frogs. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
Safety Pat Fields #10, and offensive lineman Marcus Alexander #74 of the Oklahoma Sooners run onto the field for a game against the TCU Horned Frogs. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Oklahoma football has been an offensive juggernaut is recent seasons and a the same time a defensive liability.

It hasn’t always been that way, though. Barry Switzer had some outstanding defensive teams in the 1970s and ’80s that played high-level complementary football. And Bob Stoops, a defensive coach all the way to his core, had some very good defensive units in the early years of his coaching tenure at Oklahoma.

The Sooners have had All-Americans at every defensive position.

One of the chief calling cards of those exceptional defenses under Switzer and Stoops was great play in the defensive secondary, something that has plagued the Sooners and been somewhat hit and miss over the past decade.

Here are the five Oklahoma defensive backs we consider to be the best of the modern era (1946-present), from No. 5 to No. 1:

Home/OU Football