Here are five Oklahoma defensive players you should keep an eye on against Georgia during the Rose Bowl.
1. OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Credit: Gregory Shamus
Credit: Gregory Shamus
In case you were curious, the correct pronunciation is “o-BO-ny-uh o-kor-RON-kwo.” Get to know the name too because the battle between one of the top pass rushers in the nation and Georgia left tackle Isaiah Wynn will be a good one. Okoronkwo has had no trouble getting into opposing backfields, as he's recorded 17.5 tackles for loss (12th-most in the country) and eight sacks this season (both of which are team-highs). He has started every game at outside linebacker for the past two seasons and this year was named the co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and All-Big 12 First Team. The redshirt senior has explosive speed getting around the edge, but will need help to bring down Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm, who has shown good elusiveness in the pocket this year. The matchup of Okoronkwo and Wynn only happens though if Oklahoma can stop the Bulldogs ground game and force Georgia into passing downs.
2. CB Parnell Motley
Credit: Ron Jenkins
Credit: Ron Jenkins
The Sooners best cover-corner will likely see a lot of Georgia wide receiver Javon Wims in the Rose Bowl. The sophomore stands at 6-foot, 175 pounds, so Wims (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) will have the size advantage in the matchup. But that won’t stop Motley. His nine pass breakups and 11 passes defended lead the Sooners. He also is tied for the team lead in interceptions with two -- one of which was returned for a touchdown. Motley has plenty of reps this season after facing Big 12 competition. He and the rest of the Sooners’ secondary have defended 418 pass attempts from opposing quarterbacks. Bulldogs’ quarterback Jake Fromm has attempted just 230 passes. If Oklahoma can stop Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, you can bet Motley will be ready for the Wims challenge. Georgia might also stay away from this matchup and look to target the Sooners other cornerback, freshman Tre Norwood, who was thrust into a starting role after an injury midseason.
3. OLB Emmanuel Beal
Credit: Richard Rodriguez
Credit: Richard Rodriguez
On the other side of the linebacking corps is Beal, who will be a key cog in stopping Georgia’s Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. The senior leads the Sooners with 89 tackles, including 50 solo stops. At 6-foot, 218 pounds, he is a bit undersized, but makes up for it with fundamentally sound tackling (hence why he leads the team in tackles). Considering how good Georgia’s running game has been this season, Chubb and Michel will most likely make it to the linebacking-level of the defense more times than not. Beal and the rest of the linebackers will be tasked with stopping them right there and limiting runs to four-or-five yards, which will feel like a win against the Bulldogs, who average nearly six yards per carry.
4. DE D.J. Ward
Credit: Brett Deering
Credit: Brett Deering
Before Nick Chubb and Sony Michel reach the second-level of the defense, they must get past the redshirt senior defensive end. Ward, who has 34 tackles this season, is second on the team with 7.5 tackles for loss and third on the team with 4.5 sacks. The 6-foot-2, 260-pounder was named All-Big 12 Second Team by the league's coaches. While linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is occupying Isaiah Wynn on one side of the line, Ward will try and bully his way past Freshman All-American right tackle Andrew Thomas on the other side. As good as Thomas has played this season, he hasn’t faced many defensive ends with the experience of Ward, who has played in 44 collegiate games. The winner of this matchup could dictate the success or failure of the Bulldogs run game.
5. SS Steven Parker
Credit: Brett Deering
Credit: Brett Deering
The strong safety has been the rock in the Oklahoma secondary for nearly three and a half years. Parker has played in every game for the Sooners since he stepped foot on campus in 2014. And has been a starter since the beginning of 2015. At 6-foot-1, 204 pounds, he brings good size and athleticism to an Oklahoma secondary that has struggled with some injury problems. Parker is fourth on the team with 57 tackles. He recorded six pass breakups and six passes defended this year and was named All-Big 12 Second Team by the league's coaches. Don’t expect a savvy veteran like Parker to be fooled when Georgia attempts to take a downfield shot with the play-action pass. He is also going to be key in stopping the Bulldogs strong rushing attack. As the last line of defense, he is most likely going to need to make some key tackles to prevent long runs by Georgia’s backs.
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