Oklahoma safety and elite 2025 NFL Draft safety Billy Bowman Jr. aiming to bring 'suffocating' mentality to an NFL team

The Oklahoma Sooners benefitted from four years of elite safety play courtesy of Billy Bowman Jr. One of the Sooners' most-prized recruiting pickups of the Lincoln Riley era, Bowman remained steadfast with Oklahoma despite the change to Brent Venables and flourished under the Sooners' new scheme and coaching.

A three-time All-Conference player, First-Team All-American, and the recipient of Oklahoma's Don Key Award, Bowman is one of the most decorated and successful Sooners defenders of the 21st century.

Now, he is taking his skills to the NFL and aims to be Oklahoma's highest-drafted defensive back since Aaron Colvin in 2014. 

At the NFL Combine, Bowman described his mentality and approach to the game and what he has been telling NFL teams about how he plays football. 

Safe to say, he knocked it out of the park with his answer. (Quote via Devin Jackson of The Philadelphia Inquirer): 

"I want to suffocate offenses. Offense is easy to play. You know your play. You know where the ball is going. All you got to do is get the ball make somebody miss. On defense, it brings so much more of a challenge. So it's so much more fun. But my goal is just to suffocate offenses. I don't want to give them nothing. I want to hold them to 0 to 3. When the ball in the air, it's mine."

Bowman backs up his talk with his play. His 11 career interceptions are 14th in Oklahoma history and his three pick-sixes sit atop the record books. 

Replacing Bowman will be a difficult task for the Sooners. His playmaking ability on the field made him one of the best defensive backs to ever put on an Oklahoma jersey, but his leadership off of the field and toughness set the tone for the rest of the team.

It's not hyperbole to say Bowman was an integral part of turning the culture of the Sooners around after the suddenness of Lincoln Riley's departure. Now, he's looking to deliver that same impact to an NFL team that (smartly) drafts him.