In his first spring with the Oklahoma Sooners, [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] is already an intriguing name to watch. The final few days of his recruitment took the college football world by storm as he went from committed to Notre Dame to Oregon before signing with Oklahoma.
But more than a recruiting story, the Sooners signed one of the best defensive players in the 2023 recruiting cycle. Because of his prowess at the safety position and a mandate to improve the secondary, Bowen has a chance to have an impact as a true freshman.
CBS Sports’ Shehan Jeyarajah included Bowen as one of his true freshman to watch during spring game season. The Sooners’ safety joins Texas’ Arch Manning and Tennessee’s Nico Iamleava as first-year players to watch on the spring game circuit.
After a bizarre recruitment saga, Bowen is finally on campus in Norman. Rated the No. 3 safety in the Top247 rankings, Bowman headlines the class with a big, athletic frame ready to contribute. Needless to say, the Sooners could use any reinforcements on defense after putting together their worst season since Y2K. Safety contributors [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag] and [autotag]Key Lawrence[/autotag] are back, but Bowen could push his way into the rotation. The Sooners could also try Bowman at the versatile “Cheetah” role, which blends safety, corner and linebacker into one package. – Jeyarajah, CBS Sports
With word coming down that Robert Spears-Jennings will miss the rest of the spring after undergoing shoulder surgery, the Sooners’ safety depth has taken a hit. Though Oklahoma added a potential starter in [autotag]Reggie Pearson[/autotag], Bowen will get more work this spring to prepare him for a role in Brent Venables’ defense.
He’s got the talent and, according to Venables, the understanding of the game to be an impact player in year one with the Oklahoma Sooners.
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