Oklahoma football: Five Sooners to keep a watchful eye on in 2021
By Chip Rouse
DL Perrion Winfrey
Former junior-college transfer Perrion Winfrey anchors what many experts believe to be the best defensive line in the Big 12 and among the 10 best nationally.
In his first season as a Sooner in 2020, the 6-foot, 3-inch, 300-pound defensive tackle played in all 11 Oklahoma games, the last nine of which he started, and was a second-team All-Big 12 defensive selection. was credited with 19 tackles, six of those for a loss, and three passes defended.
His block of a Texas field-goal attempt late in last season’s Red River rivalry game may have preserved the Oklahoma victory, which came later in double overtime.
Parker Thune, who follows OU for Sports Illustrated.com, wrote this about Winfrey’s game-saving block against Texas:
“The snap and the hold occurred without incident, and (Texas kicker Cameron) Dicker laid his right foot into the ball. But a split-second later, the kick’s flight encountered a hefty obstacle, the outstretched hand of Perrion Winfrey…
“Even if Winfrey never again makes a meaningful contribution in an Oklahoma uniform, hel” always have a spot in Sooner lore for his hand — pun fully intended — in the historic victory.”
Perrion Winfrey is a “guy that can affect a football game,” said defensive coordinator Alex Grinch,” and we expect him to.”
Expect him to impact the game even more in 2021.