One of the more underrated defensive players in the country is a big reason the Sooners defense is off to a hot start

The Broken Arrow, Oklahoma native, safety Robert Spears-Jennings, has been a huge part of this elite 2024 defense. As a freshman, he appeared in nine games, accumulating 15 tackles, and showing promise for his future in the Sooners' defense. Now, we are seeing that come to fruition.

He underwent shoulder surgery in the spring of 2023, which caused him to miss the remainder of spring practice, but he was cleared to play by the start of the 2023 season, and man did he have a very under-the-radar year. He played in 12 games, starting in two, and recorded 38 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup.

Heading into the 2024 season, Spears-Jennings was expected to play a more significant role, especially given his performance in fall camp. With other great safeties around him like Peyton Bowen and Billy Bowman, he's showing that he is one of the more underrated defenders in the country.

Spears-Jennings is on a roll so far through two games and is looking like one of the more underrated defenders in the country, despite playing second-fiddle to Billy Bowman, the best safety in the country. But, Spears-Jennings is making a name for himself, and even playing at the same level as Bowman in several areas.

According to Pro Football Focus, he has a 91.5 defensive grade, 91.0 coverage grade, and 87.1 tackling grade in two games against the Temple Owls and the Houston Cougars. He's got a pass breakup on the year, and on a third and seven play in the second quarter, after Temple's RB caught a pass, attempting to run for the first down, RSJ forced a fumble and recovered it.

He's been balling, and he could only get better as the season goes on and the defense as a whole heats up. So far, Brent Venables and Zac Alley have given him the opportunity on defense to be a dawg.

Related: Oklahoma Sooners Defensive Tackle Earns Oklahoma's First SEC Weekly Defensive Award