Oklahoma Sooners freshman defender isn’t afraid to admit what he’s struggled with in his transition from high school to the SEC originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
The Oklahoma Sooners had a lot of help from a lot of young players in 2024, but that was a product of having so many injuries on both sides of the ball. That obviously will only help the young players out in the long run.
But in 2024, they may get some help from their young guys because of the steps they have taken, and because of how good they are. There are a few position groups who will get some action and production out of first or second year players. The offensive line is one of the biggest and most notable, with guys like true freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje potentially starting throughout the season.
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Then there is the defensive back room, where guys like sophomore Reggie Powers and young studs Jeremiah Newcombe, Eli Bowen, and Courtland Guillory are all first or second year guys that will play actual roles in the defense.
Guillory, a true freshman, is a guy that has really been surprising people with his play in fall camp, where even head coach Brent Venables has gone out of his way to mention. But, it’s not just his physical play that’s gotten him the early recognition, it’s the mental side of things, too.
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Courtland Guillory has the mental strength to be an SEC cornerback
Playing in the SEC is the hardest thing in college football. Outside of being a quarterback, playing cornerback in the SEC is the hardest thing to do in the SEC. You have to guard some of the most athletic freaks in college football on the outside, sometimes on an island by yourself.
So, to play in the SEC, you have to be more than just a physically gifted players. You have to be smart, too, and part of that is being smart enough to know what you need to fix in your own game. Even as a true freshman, Guillory knows what he needs to work on, and he knows what the hardest part of transitioning from high school to college is, too.
“In high school you’re really just playing man and dominating the competition,” Guillory told reporters on-site in fall camp. “But when you get to college you gotta play a lot of zone coverage and zone schemes. Working on my zone coverage was my biggest thing, I know I can play man, I can guard anyone man on man. Zone, there is more that goes into it. You have to read your keys the right way, so that’s been my biggest thing.”
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Guillory has been one of the names we are constantly hearing about. He likely won’t be a starter, at least right away, but he will certainly battle for a backup/second string role. Right now, Eli Bowen, the best cornerback on the team, is CB1.
However, Bowen is dealing with a foot injury. Behind Bowen is likely Jeremiah Newcombe on that left side. Newcombe and Guillory will likely be battling for that backup spot, that is if Jacobee Johnson or Devon Jordan don’t take it, but they’re expected to be the CBs on the right side.
This cornerback room is home grown. There are no transfer portal guys there, really. So, they have to feel confident in every single guy on the roster. Guillory is one of them they feel very good about.
This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Aug 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
