The Oklahoma Sooners’ safety group is one of the positions that’s garnered a lot of buzz over the last couple of years. Brandon Hall’s recruiting and the performance on the field have helped the Sooners take the next step in the defense’s development. Though Billy Bowman is off to the NFL, there’s still a lot of excitement for what Oklahoma’s built at safety.
Robert Spears-Jennings leads the way for a young and hungry safety room that includes former five-star prospect Peyton Bowen, who is expected to ascend into a starting role this year, a talented trio from the 2024 recruiting class in Jaydan Hardy, Reggie Powers III, and Michael Boganowski, and a pair of safeties from the state of Arkansas in Omarion Robinson and Marcus Wimberly.
It’s a competitive group that’s made a lot of noise this offseason.
At SEC media days, in an interview with Locked On Sooners, we asked Robert Spears-Jennings who the hardest hitter on the team was.
Though reluctant, Spears-Jennings had a definitive answer. “I hate to give it to him, but it’s Michael Boganowski,” Jennings said. “Boganowski is the hardest hitter on the team. I can stamp that for sure. I’ve seen it with my own two eyes, it’s crazy.”
Boganowski was a three-star prospect according to On3, but he didn’t take long to make his presence felt as a true freshman, cracking tight end Bauer Sharp with a big hit during the 2024 spring game.
The Junction City, Kan. native is expected to slot in behind Robert Spears-Jennings at one of the safety spots but should see snaps in Brent Venables’ defense. Peyton Bowen was third among safeties with 394 snaps for the Sooners’ defense. Oklahoma wants to have multiple guys that can play at each spot, and Boganowski’s physical presence will make a difference in a physical SEC.
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