Transfer Talk: What Oklahoma is Getting in DB Jocelyn Malaska

Coming out of high school, former Bethany (OK) standout Jocelyn Malaska had his choice of schools around the country.

With 12 offers in hand, Malaska ended up choosing Utah over Texas Tech, SMU, Vanderbilt and others. Malaska was originally committed to the Red Raiders, but ended up flipping to Kyle Whittingham and company.

Originally born in Haiti, Malaska began playing football in seventh grade after moving to the United States. Despite his inexperience, the former Bronchos’ standout had good length and athleticism, allowing him to succeed early in his career.

“He developed quickly and starred at Bethany,” high school sports reporter Nick Sardis said. “He did a lot for that team, playing as a defensive back and receiver. He also punted and was a returner. His combination of speed and length stood out, and he seemed to always make an impact somehow when I saw him.”

Listed at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds coming out of Bethany, Malaska was rated a 3-star prospect and the No. 16 player in Oklahoma, according to 247Sports.

While he played in a variety of different spots during his OK Preps days, Malaska was recruited to Utah to play cornerback.

In his two-year stint with the Utes, Malaska played 30 total snaps, all coming on special teams.

In 2023, the promising athlete tallied nine snaps on the Utah’s punt return team, five snaps on kickoff coverage and five snaps on the Utes kickoff coverage team.

Pro Football Focus gave Malaska a 63.1 special teams grade for his efforts last season.

In the offseason, Malaska put his name in the transfer portal and ended up returning home to join the OU football team as a preferred walk-on.

Even though the in-state product won’t take up a scholarship spot, he should add depth to the Sooners’ cornerback room. With his length and speed, Malaska could eventually earn time on the field as a defensive back or on special teams.

“He was always the most athletic player on the field. He seemed to always do something that stood out,” Sardis told AllSooners. “Whether it was on defense, offense or special teams.”

With Oklahoma heading into the SEC, Malaska will need to add weight to earn more significant snaps in 2024. Currently, the former Utes DB is listed at 178 pounds.

Still, Malaska’s experience playing Power 5 football and his physical traits should give him the opportunity to compete for snaps as a special teams player immediately.

Additionally, bringing in Malaska helps the Sooners’ continue their in-state recruiting efforts at the high school level.

Malaska’s younger brother, Evenson Malaska, received an offer from OU last summer and is a talented defensive back in the 2026 recruiting class. 

For Brent Venables, getting players like Malaska, Gavin Freeman, Andy Bass and others to join the team as preferred walk-ons is a huge victory. All of the aforementioned players had scholarship offers to other Division I schools, yet chose to stay home and play for the Sooners.

Adding talented prospects to the fringes of the roster allows more room for other scholarship players and creates more competition in practice, benefitting the program in multiple ways.

In Malaska's case specifically, the young cornerback has the tools to potentially make an impact on Oklahoma's defense someday, while still keeping one more spot open for another playmaker to join the team if Malaska doesn't develop into a scholarship player. 

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