Oklahoma Sooners' underrated position group has made an unexpected huge jump during fall camp

The Oklahoma Sooners football team, as they prepare for their inaugural season in the SEC, have been making significant strides in bolstering their secondary, a move that's been the talk among fans and analysts alike.

While fall camp is going on, there have been a few talking points. Of course, the running game with the help of DeMarco Murray has been a big one, as has Jackson Arnold and the defense as a whole. But, let's not sleep on everything we are hearing about the secondary -- one of the most underrated position groups on the team.

"They have taken a huge leap during fall camp. Guys that can go out there and line up and play corner, they’re fearless, confident... But that’s the group of guys, top to bottom, we’re better at corner than at any time that we’ve been here,” Brent Venables said recently after a practice.

Players like Woodi Washington, who has seen almost every scenario imaginable during his time at OU, bring a wealth of experience. Washington, having played through multiple seasons under different coaching regimes, offers not just skill but also leadership, which is invaluable in the high-pressure environment of SEC football.

And, with the Sooners' first SEC season coming up , they will need all of the experience and talent they can get.

The addition of players like Reggie Powers III, Jaydan Hardy, and others through the 2024 recruiting class, alongside transfers, has injected fresh talent into the mix. These newcomers, combined with returning stars like Billy Bowman Jr., whose performance last year was nothing short of spectacular with six interceptions, set a high bar for the secondary's performance.

The cornerback room alone, though, is where the biggest jump has come. This is largely because of players that have come in as transfers, like Dez Malone and the recruitment of players like Jeremiah Newcombe indicates the Sooners not only have starters but also a robust rotation that can keep up with the physical demands of SEC football.

This isn't the Big 12 anymore -- every team in the SEC has big, physical, fast wide receivers across their roster.

Related: Oklahoma Sooners feature explosive offense at spring game led by Jackson Arnold and Deion Burks