When you watch a game on TV, there’s a lot that can be taken from it, in terms of observing and evaluating players.  However, one area that’s tough to gauge is the secondary.  You usually only see big plays, that either favor or vilify the players, so getting a play-by-play measure of how good a secondary is tough.  So, when I started to look at which secondary is the best, it was hard.  I had to look at guys, in terms of how they play the run, how teams throw against them, but also, I gave bonus points to teams that are deep in talent.  How many college secondaries can field a secondary that can consistently defend multiple WR sets?  I got it down to 5.  Michigan, LSU, Oklahoma, Florida State, and Texas.  All 5 of these secondaries can field starters, most of who are destined to play on Sundays at some point, and some of them even stay strong with going to the nickel and dime, but in terms of frightening talent among the starters, in terms of that depth, I have to give the nod to the Oklahoma Sooners.

 

Going into this spring, there were only 2 spots set for the Oklahoma secondary ― two starters gone, one cornerback and one safety, with two returning stars.  For the bulk of the spring, it was a pretty heated battle for those two remaining spots.  When the dust cleared, what Sooner faithful discovered is they have 7 starting secondary players and the most experienced unit in the country.

 

Any discussion of that unit has to start with Antonio Perkins.  Perkins is the quiet leader of the Sooner secondary.  No, that doesn’t mean Perkins, a senior, is soft spoken, quite the opposite.  What he is, however, is a lock down cornerback, whose name is called the least, of any of the starters.  Why?  Because when your assignment is to keep the guy from catching the ball, and you do it well, no one has to say a word.  One thing Coach Venables has promised this season is to blitz Perkins, as well as the rest of the secondary more, making even greater use of their physical skills.  The 6', 193 lb. senior is also one of the most dynamic punt returners in the country.  Oh, did I mention he’s got no problem sticking his head into a running back’s chest in run support?  Perkins doesn’t get the “pub” that an Antrel Rolle or Corey Webster does, but his technique is just as good.

 

Next on the list is starting strong safety, Donté Nicholson.  At 6' 2" and 216 lbs., being super lean, the senior gives the look of another cornerback on the field, playing like it too; although clearly his strength is stepping up and hitting people.  90 tackles last year, 2 INTs and 6 sacks show his versatility.  Considering he was in the off-season running for the cornerback spot, opposite Perkins, show’s just how complete this kid is. 

 

The other starting cornerback is Eric Bassey.  Bassey, a junior, moved to cornerback in 2003, after starting every game at strong safety in 2002.  Bassey was the starting nickel corner, in the nickel base package used by the OU coaching staff.  Yeah…another kid who came in as a safety, was able to move to cornerback, and excel.  Bassey probably gets his number called as much as any player on the OU defense, mainly because he’s the guy getting thrown at ― not because he’s a bad player, but because he’s the worst great one.  Another 6-footer in the secondary, who can run and chase and tackle.   Bassey won the starting job in the spring, but just barely.