Oklahoma State University Athletics
Position Preview: Cornerbacks
August 17, 2021 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – As experienced as the Oklahoma State secondary is, the departure of Rodarius Williams, a four-year starter and the school record holder for consecutive starts at 48 games, leaves a hole at the cornerback position opposite Jarrick Bernard-Converse.
"We have depth," defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. "We'll have a lot of good competition at corner. We're going to have someone at corner who hasn't started. Jarrick has stepped up with all these younger guys. They look up to him and the way he carries himself."
Bernard-Converse will be the new leader of the group, as his streak of 33 straight starts is now the longest on the team. Coming into college as a safety, he has made the transition to cornerback, where he started all 11 games last season, tying for the team lead with seven pass breakups as a junior.
"This is year four in the system," Bernard-Converse said. "The guys look up to us. Coach Knowles relies on us to make sure we're leading guys in the right way and the way he wants."
The Shreveport, Louisiana native will likely share the field with Christian Holmes starting on the opposite side as him. A graduate transfer in 2020, Holmes is another "super senior" who is making the most of his extra year of eligibility. Holmes started the final two games in place of Williams last year and played in all 11 games.
"Christian struggled last season with learning the system, as a lot of new guys do," Knowles said. "I feel like he put in some time this summer and I had some one-on-one meetings with him. He's trying to take his game to the next level and he's working hard. Time will tell, but he needs to step up and do it because we're counting on him."
The other corners competing for the spot left by Williams are sophomores Korie Black and Jabbar Muhammad. Both Cowboys saw playing time as freshman and are expected to contribute in 2021.
"Korie has all the NFL markings in terms of height, wing span and speed," Knowles said. "Jabbar in just a couple of days of camp has been impressive. He is really smart and knows exactly where to be, what to do and he's savvy. Those two guys are definitely going to play this year and are competing to start."
Several others young cornerbacks fill the position group and are looking to earn playing time, including Demarco Jones and Jordan Reagan, who redshirted last season. Early enrollee, Lyrik Rawls practiced in the spring and is joined by four fellow freshmen cornerbacks: De'kelvion Beamon, Ray Gay, Cam Smith and Kale Smith.
"We have depth," defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said. "We'll have a lot of good competition at corner. We're going to have someone at corner who hasn't started. Jarrick has stepped up with all these younger guys. They look up to him and the way he carries himself."
Bernard-Converse will be the new leader of the group, as his streak of 33 straight starts is now the longest on the team. Coming into college as a safety, he has made the transition to cornerback, where he started all 11 games last season, tying for the team lead with seven pass breakups as a junior.
"This is year four in the system," Bernard-Converse said. "The guys look up to us. Coach Knowles relies on us to make sure we're leading guys in the right way and the way he wants."
The Shreveport, Louisiana native will likely share the field with Christian Holmes starting on the opposite side as him. A graduate transfer in 2020, Holmes is another "super senior" who is making the most of his extra year of eligibility. Holmes started the final two games in place of Williams last year and played in all 11 games.
"Christian struggled last season with learning the system, as a lot of new guys do," Knowles said. "I feel like he put in some time this summer and I had some one-on-one meetings with him. He's trying to take his game to the next level and he's working hard. Time will tell, but he needs to step up and do it because we're counting on him."
The other corners competing for the spot left by Williams are sophomores Korie Black and Jabbar Muhammad. Both Cowboys saw playing time as freshman and are expected to contribute in 2021.
"Korie has all the NFL markings in terms of height, wing span and speed," Knowles said. "Jabbar in just a couple of days of camp has been impressive. He is really smart and knows exactly where to be, what to do and he's savvy. Those two guys are definitely going to play this year and are competing to start."
Several others young cornerbacks fill the position group and are looking to earn playing time, including Demarco Jones and Jordan Reagan, who redshirted last season. Early enrollee, Lyrik Rawls practiced in the spring and is joined by four fellow freshmen cornerbacks: De'kelvion Beamon, Ray Gay, Cam Smith and Kale Smith.
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