Oklahoma football: Seven Sooners pivotal to OU’s success in 2023

Oklahoma’s Billy Bowman (5) celebrates an interception with Danny Stutsman (28) and Jeffery Johnson (77) in the first half during the Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov., 19, 2022.

FS Billy Bowman

The Oklahoma defense is expected to be better in Year 2 and more resemble a defense that has Brent Venables’ hand on it. One of the key reasons why is the growth and development of defensive back Billy Bowman, who will line up at free safety. This will be Bowman’s third season and he has gotten better every year.

Billy Bowman’s range is wild. Dude was WIDE open, and Bowman intercepts it. #OUDNA #littlebrother pic.twitter.com/c3sd56sWm8
— Sooners Insider (@SoonersInsider) March 13, 2023

The junior safety is a playmaker on defense. He has demonstrated the ability to diagnose plays and position himself where he needs to be to make a play, whether it’s a run or pass play.

He was in on 60 tackles last season and had three interceptions and five pass breakups.