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Dezjhon Malone, a seasoned cornerback, pledged to Oklahoma on Sunday morning, bolstering the team’s defensive line.
Malone, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 200 pounds, is a solid player who started 12 games for the Aztecs this season and was named to the Mountain West Honorable Mention team for the second year in a row. He has made 23 straight starts in the last two seasons.
Malone had received offers from Purdue, Michigan State, West Virginia, Louisville, Houston, and Purdue since logging onto the portal.
In addition to cornerback being one of OU’s weak spots on the 2023 roster due to recurring injuries to Gentry Williams and Kani Walker, the Sooners lost multiple defensive backs to graduation and the transfer portal. Jay Valai and company needed to add more depth at corner before entering the SEC next season.
After Williams and Walker, who saw action as true freshmen in 2023, the Sooners will have three experienced players remaining in Makari Vickers, Jasaiah Wagoner, and Jacobe Johnson. Senior Woodi Washington is anticipated to go for the NFL. transfer to junior college This season, Kendel Dolby also played cornerback, earning crucial reps as a slot corner and cheetah linebacker. Following a knee injury, sophomore Jayden Rowe might be prepared to participate in spring practice.
Malone had 49 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, seven pass breakups, one interception, and one forced fumble in 2023 as a redshirt junior. Pro Football Focus reports that Malone has 45 tackles and three interceptions in 2022. He made eighty-six tackles in two seasons.
Malone, second on the team, played 692 defensive snaps this season, according to PFF. He also had an overall PFF grade of 71.8, including 71.9 in coverage. In 2023, he played cornerback for 627 snaps, gave up just 286 total yards receiving, had a 48.1 completion % on 52 targets, and an NFL efficiency rating of just 63.5. Malone only missed nine tackles during the season.
Malone’s efficiency rating was 61.7 and his opponents’ completion rate was 56.6 on 53 targets in 2022.
He played 1,150 snaps, missed just 17 tackles, and allowed just 55 receptions (three touchdowns) in his two seasons as the Aztecs’ starter.
Malone was a three-star prospect who was born in Fresno, California, the same city as former Sooners linebacker and current S.O.U.L. Mission Director Caleb Kelly.
The gifted defensive back is Oklahoma’s second cycle addition via the transfer portal; earlier this week, former Michigan State offensive lineman Spencer Brown committed to Oklahoma.
