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Oklahoma CB Gentry Williams Shines on Defense in First Start

Originally posted on Oklahoma Sooners on SI
By Tim Willert | Last updated 9/2/23

NORMAN — The moment wasn't too big for Gentry Williams.

Williams made his first start for Oklahoma on Saturday, and it took the sophomore cornerback from Tulsa less than one quarter to bring down the house in the Sooners' 73-0 victory over Arkansas State.

Williams, a consensus 4-star recruit, gave fans a glimpse of the future when he closed like a missile on a short pass to drop Arkansas State running back JaQuez Cross for a 6-yard loss with 31 seconds remaining in the opening period.

The Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium crowd of 83,221 erupted in cheers.

“Nothing like it. Sooner fans are unreal," Williams said. "That moment is something I’ll remember forever.”

Overlooked in Oklahoma's offensive explosion Saturday was the dominant performance by the Sooners' defense.

Williams was one of seven players making their first starts for the OU defense, which limited Arkansas State to 208 yards total offense and just 48 yards rushing. The Red Wolves converted just 2-of-12 third-down opportunities and punted seven times.

While junior defensive end Ethan Downs led the defense with four tackles and a sack, it was the younger players who stood out for OU, including Williams and redshirt sophomore cornerback Kani Walker.

Both made big plays for OU, but it was Williams who got the crowd going early with the tackle for loss.

“Yeah, it was a play we had been working all week," he said. "Just read it, stayed true to my keys, and understood the play. When the moment came, I was ready.”

Sooners head coach Brent Venables agreed.

"Yeah, he was ready. He's on edge. Got a focused intensity about him," Venables said. "The moment's never too big. He was physical, and in some of the screen game he was fearless. He's got a fearless mentality to him. And a great teammate. Lets you coach him hard. He's very prideful."

In the third quarter, Walker forced a fumble by Arkansas State receiver Tennel Bryant and recovered the ball on the Red Wolves' 34-yard line. Five plays later, freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold ran it in from seven yards out to put OU up 66-0.

“I think any time you play good on defense it feels good," Williams said. "We stuck to the game plan. Our coaches did an excellent job preparing us for this moment. I think we were prepared."

Defensive coordinator Ted Roof called it "big" to play a lot of players in the game.

"It helps your locker room, it helps your practice field," Roof said. "I think we played 44 guys today, which is four-deep. For guys, especially guys where it’s the first action ever, to kind of show them what it’s like. It was a great start for us, but that’s exactly what it was for us — a start.”