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With the Sooners ending a tumultuous 2021 season on a high note with a win over the Oregon Ducks in the Valero Alamo Bowl, many Sooners took it as a positive way to close their final chapter at Oklahoma.
Nik Bonitto, Perrion Winfrey, and Isaiah Thomas all opted out before the game, while guys like Pat Fields, Marquis Hayes, Tyrese Robinson, Kennedy Brooks, and Gabe Brkic played in the win over Oregon, but have since declared for the 2022 NFL draft.
Following other Sooners defenders, safety Delarrin Turner-Yell has made it known he’ll be heading to the NFL.
Sooner For Life ! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/HsSvUimIAA
— Delarrin Turner-Yell (@dtturner11) January 1, 2022
Turner-Yell has been a steadfast and reliable option on the backend of the Sooners defense since coming to Norman.
In his career, he was a three-year starter, making 30 career starts. Turner-Yell led the Sooners with three interceptions this season and was fourth in tackles with 53.
For his career, he finishes with 190 total tackles, four interceptions, and a forced fumble. Turner-Yell was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection this season and an Academic All-Big 12 Second Team honoree as well.
Turner-Yell was reliable, had very few busts in coverage, and was a physical player at the strong safety position for Alex Grinch’s Speed D. His experience, leadership, and physicality will be yet another major hole for the Sooners to replace in Brent Venables’ first year as Sooners head coach.
The Hempstead, Texas native marks the 10th starter from this year’s team to declare for the NFL Draft. If Turner-Yell gets drafted, it’ll mark the second consecutive year a Sooners defensive back was drafted.
At a glance, a name like Key Lawrence immediately comes to mind as a guy that can replace Turner-Yell as the Sooners head into a winter where they’ll be retooling a lot of different positions on top of acclimating a handful of new coaches.
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