Making his first start at cornerback, Key Lawrence stood out in an impressive performance for the Oklahoma Sooners defense vs. Texas Tech.
In team performances that were a letdown defensively against TCU and Kansas, Key Lawrence had been one of the standout performers for the Sooners’ defense.
With Delarrin Turner-Yell coming back, the question became what to do with Lawrence. He had been one of the Sooners’ best defenders and was playing at such a high level that it would be difficult to take him off the field.
A text message on Sunday night from defensive coordinator to Alex Grinch might have made all the difference for the Oklahoma Sooners defense. Grinch asked, “what do you think about playing corner?” Grinch didn’t provide a word-for-word response from Lawrence but summarized it as “let’s roll.”
According to Grinch, Lawrence went about his work the right way in practice this week, attacking the challenge of the midseason position switch. That decision was challenged on the first play of Saturday’s game.
Looking to set a tone early, Texas Tech came out slinging the ball. Henry Colombi dropped back and looked to have Kaylon Geiger down the left sideline, dropping a beautiful ball into his receiver’s arms. As the play concluded, Lawrence reached his hand in and knocked the ball out of Geiger’s arms to force the incomplete pass.
It was the first play of the game, but the competitive spirit Lawrence displayed on a play he was beaten on set the tone for a Sooners defense to play its best game of the season.
Cornerback has been one of the team’s most significant weakness over the last month. The Sooners have had a hard time keeping up or making competitive plays at the catch point. On Saturday afternoon, that seemed to change on Lawrence’s side of the field.
Lawrence finished the day with seven total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and two passes defended. It was the first time in weeks the coverage unit for the Oklahoma Sooners defense looked up to the challenge.
Erik Ezukanma was a difficult matchup for the Sooners’ secondary. He had five receptions for 70 yards in the first half. However, Oklahoma held the rest of the Texas Tech wide receiver group to six catches and 44 yards.
As the Sooners started to pull away, the difference was the Oklahoma defense not allowing the opposing offense to respond to OU touchdowns. The defense put the clamps on, forcing three punts and an interception in the first half.
From the defensive front to the secondary, it was a total team effort. However, the move of Key Lawrence to cornerback provided energy, competitiveness and an edge the Sooners defense had been missing on the outside with Woodi Washington and D.J. Graham out.
On Saturday, Graham returned to the lineup and started for the Oklahoma Sooners alongside Lawrence at cornerback. It remains to be seen what will happen when Washington returns to the lineup, but it’s clear Lawrence needs to be on the field.
And Grinch agrees. He said, “Keyshawn (Lawrence) has played to a level over the last couple weeks when Delarrin (Turner-Yell) was out to establish himself as a starter on our defense.”
That move was so influential it was arguably one of the keys to Oklahoma’s 52-21 victory over Texas Tech.
“Doesn’t bat an eye,” is how Grinch described Lawrence’s response to the suggestion of a position change, and that’s been evident with the way that he plays.
The sophomore transfer from Tennessee was a game-changer for the Oklahoma Sooners on the outside. The defensive staff must make sure he continues to see the field as the OU secondary continues to get healthier by the week.
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