Oklahoma DB/LB Justin Harrington Staying Level-Headed, But Knows His Time is Now

Harrington's career at OU has been a series of starts and stops, but now he's healthy, his mind is right and he can have a big senior year at the cheetah position.

NORMAN — Justin Harrington had every reason to become frustrated at any point over the last three years.

An undiagnosed knee injury, a coaching change, a trip through the transfer portal (and back), a position change — and all for 184 total snaps so far in his Division I college football career.

But Harrington doesn’t go down that road of frustration and regret and negativity.

“I wouldn't say frustrating,” Harrington said Monday after Oklahoma completed its seventh session of this year’s spring practice. “Just because I keep my faith in God. I'm making sure I keep my mind on the main thing, talk to family and keep my head straight. Getting out here with these guys kind of keeps me sane.”

Harrington was a junior college All-America defensive back in 2019, playing both safety and cornerback, but his career still hasn’t quite taken off at Oklahoma. He didn’t play at all in 2020 as he recovered from a juco knee injury, then he played just four games in 2021 and entered the transfer portal. When Alex Grinch joined Lincoln Riley at USC and Brent Venables took over, Harrington asked Venables for a second chance — as a walk-on.

Harrington accepted Venables’ terms, switched to the hybrid linebacker/safety position of cheetah and has been working on his craft ever since.

Justin Harrington / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

“We have a great coaching staff,” Harrington said. “They make sure that I keep my head on straight. It becomes easier and easier every day. I'm just making sure that I'm embracing my opportunity.”

Harrington is essentially a nickel safety, although at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he has the bulk and power to play it like a linebacker.

Venables is a perfectionist, so the transition wasn’t easy for Harrington. He’s had to be way more cerebral about the game than he ever had before.

“I had to really learn how to not lean on athletic ability,” Harrington said. “With Coach Venables and Coach (Ted) Roof, it was just learning football 101. I just felt like I went from learning it myself to actually be able to teach it to guys coming in. I had to teach it to myself first. You have to be able to know it inside and out.”

In 2021, Harrington was moved from safety to cornerback. He played 30 total snaps and graded out at 89.0, according to Pro Football Focus.

Last year, as a cheetah, Harrington got on the field for 154 total snaps, made 21 tackles and graded out at 57.7.

With a full season behind him and a full spring to just get better at playing the position, Harrington thinks he’s in a better place now than he was at any point since juco.

“I was of a raw talent, relying on my athletic ability,” he said. “Now it's just knowing your leverage, knowing your plays. A lot goes into account of just playing. I'm just playing free. I'm moving around and just playing free.”

It’s still a major challenge, he said — and not just the mental part.

Justin Harrington :: Parker Thune/247 Sports, used with permission

“It definitely puts a physical toll on you,” Harrington said. “With me personally, being that kind of hybrid and knowing I can play the cheetah position or slotting at free safety or strong safety. I've played corner. Just kind of fluctuating with those weights and stuff is kind of difficult, but the coaching staff and Schmitty (strength coach Jerry Schmidt) have helped out with that. It's low stress.”

Spring practice can be stressful, of course, because of the demands of high-level learning as the coaches try to cram playbooks and schemes into 15 days. But it can also be freeing — because it’s just football.

“And then when you cut on the film, you see everybody do that, we’re communicating and disguising, it’s just fun all around,” Harrington said. “It just seems like the guys coming back are having the same anticipation as me. It just feels good.”

The cheetah position seems in capable hands, as long as everyone is on the same page. In addition to Harrington, Jaren Kanak played there last year as a true freshman behind graduated DaShaun White. Indiana transfer Dasan McCullough is slated for duty there, although he’s versatile enough to step inside and play edge rusher.

For Venables, it could be like sliding puzzle pieces back and forth. 

McCullough said Harrington has been “a big help” as he strives to learn the position.

“He’s been a huge help on just telling me to take it slow,” McCullough said. “You’re gonna struggle at the beginning with learning Coach V’s defense. Nobody doesn’t. So he’s told me to be patient, stay calm and keep working.”

Harrington played two years at Bakersfield College, and he redshirted 2020. He gets an extra year back for the COVID waiver, so this is it — his sixth and final season of college football.

So he knows his time is now.

“I don't want to say the sky is the limit because I feel like that puts a barrier on it,” he said. “Whatever football brings me, I just want to go attack and try to one-up myself. I pride myself on a lot of things like just being athletic, being physical, being smart, being savvy and being coachable. Just one-upping that. If I can do something better, then let's add. If the league is my goal, then shoot, just try to be the best in the league when I get there. Just have my feet where they are. Be in the moment.”