Oklahoma football spotlight: Freshman DB Jayden Rowe

With a 22-member 2022 recruiting class and 13 additional players picked up from the transfer portal, almost one-third of the Oklahoma football roster for the coming season is made up of newcomers.

Periodically into the summer months, we will be introducing you to these new faces. Today we introduce incoming freshman defensive back Jayden Rowe, who comes to OU as the No. 35 cornerback in the 2022 class, according to 247Sports.

Who is Jayden Rowe?

Jayden Rowe is a freshman defensive back at the University of Oklahoma. He signed to play for Oklahoma in the 2022 recruiting cycle. He is a Tulsa native who played for Union High school as an Oklahoma Preps athlete. He played corner in high school and was highly rated at that position as a four-star prospect but is more likely to play either nickel or safety for the Sooners.

He chose his home state Sooners over the likes of Arkansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State and others.  Rowe originally committed to Oklahoma with the previous coaching staff in place and held his commitment with the regime change.

Playing Time Projections

Rowe has a chance to play early because he is a unique athlete. He is listed at 6-foot, 3 inches and 217 pounds, making him an ideal candidate from a size perspective at all secondary positions. He was also a track star at Union, with a confirmed 10.46 time in the 100 meters. He is big, long and fast which is exactly what you want to see in a defensive back in modern football.

His size could lead him into a linebacker role down the line depending on how his body develops in a college strength program. Ultimately Rowe is unlikely to start, but likely to get plenty of snaps at whereever he ends up position wise in the secondary. He is a tremendous athlete, and it’s hard to keep an athlete of his ability on the sidelines.

Rowe played wide receiver in high school as well, and we see a great example of his ability to high point a ball and come down with it here:

Scouting

A 6-foot, 3-inch freshman DB is certainly an oddity, you just do not see many players of that build being fluid enough to play defensive back. That is not a problem, however, for Rowe. He is a very fluid and explosive athlete. He takes good angles and comes up and helps in run support. He is a long strider who gets plenty of yardage to turn the field after a turnover.

Rowe has tremendous make-up speed in the event that he is fooled by a move and is beat; he also tackles very well. You can tell on film he does his homework, as well. He recognizes plays well and is in the right place. An ideal athlete for modern defensive back, can play corner, but likely to play safety to utilize his big frame against the run.

He takes a soul here with an athletic grab for a Union touchdown

Impact for Oklahoma

Jayden Rowe is a unicorn of an athlete. Any time you can get young men on campus with his unique ability and size it’s a win. Rowe is also an Oklahoma native; you always want to keep your best players home which is exactly what the Sooners have been able to do with Rowe.  He can play early as well which is always helpful for a brand new staff. He fits the mold that Brent Venables looks for at defensive back.