One of the reasons the Oklahoma football defense was better on the back end last season than the year before was the performance of true freshman Jaden Davis.
A four-star recruit and Under Armour All-American in the Sooners talented 2019 class, the presence of the newcomer Davis in the defensive secondary was a big factor in Oklahoma going from 129th in passing yards allowed in 2018, dead last among FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) teams, to 58th last season.
Oklahoma also improved in total defense, giving up almost 100 fewer yards per game in 2019 than in 2018. The Sooner defense ranked 114th in the nation in 2018 (453.8 yards per game), but were 38th in that category a year ago (356.4 yards per game).
Davis, from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, played in all 14 of OU’s 2019 games, recording 33 tackles, 26 of them solo, and one of the Sooners seven pass interceptions. He started just one game, playing behind starting corners Parnell Motley and Tre Brown. That will change in 2020, as Davis should see much more action with the departure of cornerback Parnell Motley.
A number of major programs were interested in Davis, but he chose the Sooners over offers from Ohio State, Wisconsin and Penn State out of the Big Ten and SEC schools Georgia, Florida and Kentucky. He also was recruited by Texas in the Big 12, and it was ironic that he had one of his best games of the season against the Longhorns, credited with five tackles.
Oklahoma did not make its true freshman available for interviews last season, but midway through the 2019 campaign, fellow cornerback and teammate Brown said to Ryan Aber of The Oklahoman about Davis:
"“He’s got a lot to go, but this is a glimpse of what you’re going to see (going forward). It’s gonna be scary for some Big 12 teams.”"
Defensive teammate Ronnie Perkins had some advice for the young cornerback, which he passed along through The Oklahoman’s Aber:
"“My advice is don’t be complacent where you’re at,” Perkins said. “You can be good as a freshman, but you can be average as a sophomore. Don’t ever lose that edge to get better.”"
Sooner fans should get to see plenty of evidence of how Davis responds to that sage advice this coming season.