Steve Curtis July 8, 2026
At the conclusion of the 2025 season, Oklahoma’s defense ranked sixth in the country. While that effort was fueled by an elite front seven with unprecedented competitive depth, it was also bolstered by outstanding play at the cornerback position.
But what do the Sooners have at corner entering 2026?
First up is Eli Bowen, the junior from Denton, Texas, who began his Oklahoma career buried on the depth chart as a true freshman in 2024. That changed in Week 7, when injuries ahead of him forced Bowen into the lineup. From there, he averaged 56 snaps per game the rest of the season.
Bowen’s freshman season was outstanding, earning Freshman All-American honors after recording two pass breakups, an interception and an overall coverage grade of 78.7.
The defining play of that campaign came in November against Alabama, when he intercepted a pass from Jalen Milroe and set the Sooners’ offense up for a short touchdown drive, extending Oklahoma’s lead and crushing the Tide’s momentum.
The Sooners went on to defeat Alabama 24-3.
Needless to say, expectations were high entering 2025, but a foot injury delayed his return until Week 6, where he initially saw limited action.
From that point on, however, Bowen looked every bit like himself, averaging 55 snaps across Oklahoma’s final eight games while recording two interceptions, including his iconic 87-yard pick-six at Alabama.
Entering his third season, Bowen is firmly entrenched as one of Oklahoma’s starting corners.
History has shown that Oklahoma defenders often take their biggest leap in their third year. Considering what Bowen accomplished as both a freshman and sophomore, another breakout season would come as little surprise.
On the opposite side will be Courtland Guillory.
Guillory was the breakout star nobody saw coming. He arrived in Norman in January 2025, and by late September, the true freshman had become both a fan favorite and one of the best cornerbacks Oklahoma had seen in years after earning a starting role to open the season.
As the season progressed, Guillory separated himself with elite playmaking ability. He logged the second-most snaps on Oklahoma’s defense while surrendering just 22 receptions on 47 targets for 209 yards and one touchdown, adding seven pass breakups against some of the SEC’s most talented receivers.
Like Bowen before him, Guillory’s remarkable freshman season earned him Freshman All-American honors.
Between the two former freshman phenoms, the Sooners enter 2026 with one of the nation’s premier cornerback tandems.
The depth behind them is encouraging as well.
Rising senior Jacobe Johnson encountered a few setbacks early in his career. Injuries throughout Oklahoma’s wide receiver room in 2024 forced him to spend time on offense, delaying his development on defense.
The 2025 season, however, allowed Johnson to focus exclusively on cornerback, where he emerged as a valuable contributor. He surrendered just six receptions for 77 yards while adding two interceptions.
Next is Jeremiah Newcombe, who suffered a season-ending shoulder injury early in the 2025 season. Entering 2026 as a redshirt sophomore, Newcombe has continued to develop, and the coaching staff is excited about his potential at cheetah alongside Reggie Powers III.
Listed at 5-foot-9, 192 pounds, Newcombe fits the mold of a lighter cheetah whose primary responsibility is dropping into coverage. Even so, he remains capable of blitzing effectively and delivering hits in the backfield.
The back end of the room is rounded out by transfers Dakoda Fields from Oregon and Prince Ijioma from Mississippi Valley State, along with younger players such as redshirt freshman Trystan Haynes and true freshman Derrick Johnson.
Their roles entering 2026 remain uncertain, but given Oklahoma’s commitment to rotating defensive players to build competitive depth, do not be surprised if all four see meaningful snaps this season.
Taken together, Oklahoma’s cornerback room features an elite starting tandem, a dependable second unit and promising young depth. What was viewed as one of the defense’s biggest question marks just a year ago now has a legitimate chance to become one of its greatest strengths in 2026.
