Much of Oklahoma’s success in 2023 is going to be dependent on how much improvement the defense makes. The Sooners have to get better in all phases on the defensive side of the ball. With an influx of talent via the transfer portal, the Sooners are hoping they’ll make the necessary jump.
One player that will be relied upon yet again is veteran cornerback Woodi Washington. Washington is one of the highest-graded cornerbacks returning for the 2023 season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Highest graded returning Big 12 Cornerbacks🔥 pic.twitter.com/ajD4Yufr13
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 24, 2023
In 2022, only two Big 12 cornerbacks played more snaps than Woodi Washington. TCU’s Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson and Josh Newton. Both players played in all 15 games for the Horned Frogs.
Woodi Washington is the eighth highest-graded cornerback returning for 2023. Only four of the players with higher grades than Washington in 2022 played in the Big 12 last season.
Much of what needs to be better from last year is a pass defense that ranked 119th in passing yards allowed last season at 273.5 yards per game. At least on one side of the field, the Sooners have a player that will limit the damage through the air. Washington allowed just 27.6 yards per game last season.
For the Sooners to reach the defensive heights that they expect under Brent Venables, 2023 has to be a step in the right direction, and Woodi Washington’s play at cornerback will be a big reason why they make that step.