Season review: Cornerbacks – OUInsider: Oklahoma Sooners Football & Basketball Recruiting [Video]

(Editor’s note: With the 2024 season in the books, OUInsider will review the performance of every position group this season. The series will include individual stats, snap counts and performance grades via Pro Football Focus and analysis. This installment focuses on the cornerbacks).

Oklahoma’s cornerbacks room saw a ton of change in 2024.

Gentry Williams missed almost the entire season with a shoulder injury, prompting the Sooners to lean on Dez Malone and Kani Walker early in the year. Then true freshman Eli Bowen suddenly emerged as one of the team’s best defenders and one of the best cornerbacks in the SEC.

There was some inconsistency at that cornerback spot. While the defense as a whole saw improvement, the secondary had some weaknesses. Overall, the Sooners allowed 203 passing yards per game, which ranked 43rd nationally. The issue was big plays. The Sooners gave up 42 passes of 20 yards or more, which ranked 91st …