NORMAN — Woodi Washington is all but penciled in as one of Oklahoma’s starting cornerbacks in 2023.
The redshirt senior has started 23 career games for the Sooners, and is the grizzled veteran among a young group of corners.
Stepping into the second year of Brent Venables’ defense, cornerbacks coach Jay Valai has not only challenged Washington to step up his own game, but to be a leader for a talented young crop of defensive backs.
And while it represents a step up in responsibility, Washington is enjoying the role.
“It’s been great,” Washington said after OU’s practice on Tuesday. “… (Valai’s) just trying to push me to be as great as I can. He feels like I can be one of the best corners in the country.
“So that’s what I’m working towards. And just trying to be as good as I can every day. Just lead the young guys and make sure they’re doing the right things as well.”
The 2023 class alone was littered with multiple new faces in the secondary.
True freshmen corners Jasaiah Wagoner and Makari Vickers both made impressions during spring practice alongside NEO transfer Kendel Dolby.
Strong springs for the young trio have only bolstered their confidence, as they’ve brought intensity to each practice in fall camp trying to prove to the coaching staff they can be trusted to play in their first year on campus in Norman.
“Guys like Jasaiah Wagoner, Makari Vickers, even Kendel Dolby,’ said Washington, “(they’re) just doing a great job just coming in and making sure they’re prepared for practice and just getting that work in.”
Digesting the scheme is the biggest barrier for new players to build trust with the coaching staff, Valai said, but he’s been really pleased with how Vickers, Wagoner and Dolby have approached the summer leading up to fall camp.
“They’re working their tail off,” Valai said last week at OU’s local media day. “… I love the mindset the (strength staff) pours into those guys on a daily basis… Those guys are ready to play right now. They’re ready to go compete right now.
“… They didn’t come here to be Joe Schmo. They want to be elite. So to me the details and everything they do is what’s going to make them separate themselves.”
Freshmen aren’t the only ones fighting for snaps at corner.
Sophomore Gentry Williams has continued to develop, even though he missed a good chunk of spring practice after collapsing at the end of winter workouts.
“Gentry’s doing a great job,” Washington said. “I’m not sure who’s going to start (at corner) on the other side right now, but they’re really out here competing every day, and Gentry’s doing a good job trying to be a leader in the group as well.”
All of the time Williams has spent studying the playbook this offseason has shown up in film study, Valai said.
“The number one thing I love in meetings, he’s the loudest guy in meetings right now,” Valai said. “Just answering every question. Talking with his chest. If you can talk like that and let it resonate in your soul and your spirit when you talk and people can feel you, we’re going to trust you on the football field.
“We’ve seen that from him, from Woodi, from Jasaiah, all these guys are starting to talk louder and louder and louder.”
The Sooners are striving to build depth across the board throughout fall camp, but the corners are achieving that while battling for the starting spot alongside Washington, a competition that will continue to be fluid leading up to the season.
“Everybody’s got a resume built up to this point,” Oklahoma defensive coordinator Ted Roof said. “But at the same time it’s a new season. All the depth chart is just a starting point for guys. That’s not — that’s a work in progress.
“There will be a lot of opportunities provided to a lot of guys to earn that.”
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