Key Lawrence
The sophomore entered the Tech game coming off a career-high eight tackle performance against Kansas while playing one of the Sooners’ starting safety positions. Lawrence also had a pair of tackles for loss and a forced fumble against the Jayhawks.
With the return of senior safety Delarrin Turner-Yell, Oklahoma opted to try out Lawrence at cornerback opposite sophomore D.J. Graham. The Nashville, Tenn., kid made the OU coaching staff’s decision a great one.
On Tech’s first play from scrimmage, the Red Raiders attacked Lawrence and he broke up the pass intended for Kaylon Geiger at the last moment.
Nice job to recover by Key Lawrence and break up the pass. pic.twitter.com/lnbhZI4Pe7
— Sooner Gridiron (@soonergridiron) October 30, 2021
His play helped Oklahoma stabilize a secondary unit that has been victimized of late. Grinch said Lawrence has earned his place as a starter for the Sooners going forward.
“Keyshawn has played I think to a level the last couple weeks when Delarrin was out to establish himself as a starter on our defense,” Grinch said. “I think he made some plays today and a couple others that I think he can and will make in the future. Looking for playmakers in the secondary and trying to find the best eleven guys and like I said, I think he’s kind of established himself as being a starter and it’s our job to find the right spot for him.”
Oklahoma head football coach Lincoln Riley liked what he saw out of Lawrence against Tech as well.
“He made some really competitive plays. He has great length. He had some experience playing corner at his previous school. Yeah, we’ve just kind of been trying to find that right combination in the secondary. We’ve obviously tried a few guys at different positions, some of it performance-based, some of it obviously with that position group and how hard we’ve been hit on the injury front,” Riley said.
“Again, just been trying to find that right combination each and every week. He did a nice job out there. He still gives us the ability to play some safety, too, which is great. Especially, the ones that really showed up to me with him, are the physicality and then just even the competitive balls. His length, his strength comes into play. He had a couple that were competitive that he rips out of there. That’s one of the advantages a guy like that gives us. I thought he had a nice first game there.”
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