Oklahoma football: Former Sooner DT Perrion Winfrey MVP in Senior Bowl

Oklahoma football defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey was one of the standout performers in the workouts last week preceding the annual Senior Bowl college all-star game.

The All-Big 12 second-team selection continued to impress in the Senior Bowl game on Saturday, so much so that he was voted the Most Valuable Player of the game.

It is most unusual for a defensive player, especially a lineman, to impress enough in a game filled with college stars to be voted the top player in the game. An honor like this usually goes to a player in an offensive skill position like quarterback, running back or receiver.

This speaks to how outstanding Winfrey’s performance was. He was credited with two quarterback sacks and three tackles for loss in the 73rd edition of the Senior Bowl played on Saturday in Mobile, Alabama.

The former Oklahoma defensive standout definitely boosted his NFL Draft stock in preparations leading up to and in the Senior Bowl game itself. He is projected as a second-round NFL Draft pick, but as a result of his Senior Bowl performance may have elevated himself to a late first-round selection.

A junior-college transfer, Winfrey played two seasons at Oklahoma. This past season, he recorded 5.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.

Winfrey was one of five Oklahoma Sooners invited to the Senior Bowl. Joining Winfrey on the National Team, coached by Robert Saleh of the New York Jets, were OT Marquis Hayes, FB/H-back Jeremiah Hall, DT Isaiah Thomas and LB Brian Asamoah.

Oh, by the way, the National team won the Senior Bowl game 20-10.