Parker and Sylvie making most of new starts
NORMAN—Jordan Parker' career at Oklahoma got off to a fast start.
In 2016, the Sooners went through a succession of cornerbacks early in the season — first Dakota Austin, then Parrish Cobb, then Michiah Quick. Eventually, Parker became the fourth to start opposite of Jordan Thomas at the spot and added stability, starting the final eight games.
Chan se Sylvie' s career started a bit more slowly, as he saw time primarily on special teams as a freshman in 2016 before playing 14 games in a reserve role the next season.
This year, though, the two redshirt juniors are expected to play significant roles in Alex Gr inch' s new-look defense.
Both could even find themselves starting Sunday when the Sooners open the season against Houston (6:30 p.m., ABC).
“I think it's really important now with where we're at defensively, too, especially
in the secondary to have two experienced guys that have been in it and they've both been extremely extremely positive and good leaders, good role models as we've had this change defensively,” Sooners coach Lincoln Riley said. “So I'm happy for both of those two guys to get their opportunity. They've certainly earned it, but it's just as important for this team as it is for them individually.”
After losing out on the starting job at corner to Parnell Motley in 2017, Parker suffered a season-ending injury in the season opener and subsequently moved to safety.
This offseason, he made the switch back to cornerback after playing in seven games and starting one last year.
Sylvie suffered an Achilles tear in the spring of 2018 that virtually ended his season, though he was able to return to play a bit in the Orange Bowl.
Both entered this preseason camp on the fringes of position competitions.
Parker looked like a longshot at cornerback where Tre Brown and Motley were the frontrunners, with Tre Norwood also a possibility to move back to man one of the corner spots.
Sylvie' s path appeared murky as well, with a large group of safeties ahead of him. But Norwood's injury opened the door at nickelback and Sylvie has closed the gap significantly.
Though Oklahoma's depth chart has yet to be released, Parker is believed to be battling Motley for one corner spot opposite of Brown, while Sylvie is in a neck-and-neck fight with Brendan RadleyHiles to be the nickel.
“They gave me a new lease because t hey t ol d everybody here the person that can strain, that can give out the calls and that he can trust are the people he'll put on the field,” Sylvie said of the new defensive coaching staff. “A new coaching staff is looking for the best players they can play. They're coming here to make a change. You've got to come with the mentality every day `I've got to find a way to be the best DB in the room or among the best five DBs that get on the field,' because they're looking for the best players they can play. It was a new lease you can say.”
Parker, too, said the additions of Grinch and cornerbacks coach Roy Manning has given new life to players like he and Sylvie.
“It' s just a new coaching staff and being pushed to a lot of new limits ,” Parker said. “That and … self-accountability.
“A lot of new limits and standards that you hold yourself up to.”