How DB Jacobe Johnson is Pushing For an Early Role at Oklahoma
NORMAN — Oklahoma’s overwhelming performance against Arkansas State allowed the Sooners to empty the bench on Saturday.
Debuting Brent Venables’ second team, No. 18-ranked OU strolled to a 73-0 victory over Arkansas State on Saturday, allowing the Sooners to test the depth they believe they’ve built up over the offseason.
Plenty of new faces made their debuts, though one freshman surprised with his early inclusion in the contest.
Jacobe Johnson, a consensus 4-star recruit from Mustang High School, played 14 snaps per Pro Football Focus, first entering the game in the first half.
There is plenty of excitement around the 6-foot-2 defensive back, but grasping playing time so early is even more impressive given that he arrived in the summer as opposed to enrolling early in the spring.
Catching up hasn’t proven to be a problem for the newcomer, as he’s settled right into life at Oklahoma.
“So far this fall, we've seen a guy that is really prideful in how he prepares,” defensive coordinator Ted Roof said of Johnson on Monday. “He's mature and he's talented and he's a competitor. And so, yeah, a bunch of good things we've seen from him.”
Just as he did in high school, Johnson found his way to the football. He made a pair of tackles, wasting no time showing he’s comfortable playing in space at the collegiate level.
Oklahoma needs Johnson and his fellow freshman to log snaps this year.
Woodi Washington carries all the experience at corner, as Gentry Williams made his first start opposite of the veteran on Saturday.
As OU prepares to head to the SEC, Johnson, Jasaiah Wagoner and Makari Vickers all look to earn developmental snaps in 2023.
But that task is easier said than done for freshmen.
“Just looking at it big picture-wise,” Roof said. “You look at a freshman transition to college that doesn’t play football. There’s a lot of things that go on with that.
“And then you throw in the football aspect. Jumping from high school football to college football at the University of Oklahoma, there’s a lot of transition involved.”
Venables and the defensive staff have raved about OU’s new-look secondary since winter workouts, and Johnson’s ability to make early strides will only add to the Sooners’ depth on the back end of the defense.
“It can be overwhelming walking into the University of Oklahoma,” Roof said. “But guys that just stay with it, the guys that can handle the bumps in the road because there’s going to be bumps in the road.
“And guys that want to continue to be coached hard and handle the bumps and continue growth. And that’s what I’ve seen out of those guys.”
The trio of freshman corners, paired with transfer Kendel Dolby and the continued development of Kani Walker who is in his second year with the program will allow cornerbacks coach Jay Valai to keep the competition levels on the practice field high all year long.
“Kani and Jacobe came in and did a great job (against Arkansas State),” Washington said on Monday. “Especially Kani with the forced fumble and he also got the recovery with that. Jacobe came in and made a couple of tackles.
“Even guys like Kendel Dolby coming in and making a couple of plays. I feel like all those guys will help us out a lot this year, whether that's on special teams or on defense.”
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