Oklahoma’s Key Lawrence is Delighted by His Move to Safety

NORMAN — Key Lawrence is having fun with his transfer to security.

For the primary time in three years, Pat Fields and Delarrin Turner-Yell gained’t trot out on the again finish of Oklahoma’s protection.

Earlier than spring observe even obtained rolling in Norman, Lawrence was seen as an apparent reply to fill the void by many outdoors this system due largely to his playmaking prowess in 2021.

Saturday was the primary alternative to see how the Nashville product suits in Brent Venables’ protection, and the junior appeared proper at residence.

Although he didn’t end with any tackles, Lawrence was credited with one go breakup for the Crimson Crew within the spring recreation, and he didn’t look misplaced or out of place as he led the secondary for his crew.

And whereas Lawrence stated he’s pleased with the place change, he nonetheless thinks there’s loads of room for him to develop primarily based off his efficiency on Saturday.

“I can get higher,” he stated after the sport. “… I like (enjoying security) as a result of I do know precisely what all people else is doing. I do know what the d-line is doing, the surface linebackers, the need, the corners. Simply by being at that place, I do know all of it.”

With a lot turnover at security, Lawrence has additionally taken on a management function this spring. Taking that step off the sphere was an adjustment for Lawrence, who spent final yr simply attempting to get acclimated to this system after transferring in from Tennessee.

“It was a problem for me, only for me to be extra vocal and have my communication abilities as much as par,” Lawrence stated. “I simply tried to get my guys who did not know what to do but or hadn’t skilled the sport to remain cool, calm and picked up. I simply tried to maintain them as much as par with the whole lot else.”

Even when Lawrence missed a factor or two on the sphere on Saturday when attempting to assist his teammates, he had backup within the type of Venables himself.

Oklahoma’s new head coach presided over the scrimmage in the midst of the motion, standing simply behind the offense. Venables coached all through, guaranteeing his protection lined up correctly and routinely pulling defenders apart to go alongside teaching factors after the play.

This got here as no shock to Lawrence, who stated Venables is identical man whether or not he’s teaching up guys in one-on-one drills at observe or in entrance of over 75,000 folks in the midst of a scrimmage.

“He is by no means modified, and we like it,” Lawrence stated. “… (Venables) might be some of the soccer geniuses I’ve ever been round. He is aware of precisely what every participant is meant to do each second.

“He is simply attempting to critique us so we are able to hold getting higher and hold shifting ahead.”

General, the environment introduced by the followers paired with the efficiency on the sphere meant Lawrence noticed Saturday as a profitable spring finale for the Sooners.

“I feel it was fairly enjoyable simply seeing the followers being enthusiastic with it and seeing (Brent Venables) being all-in,” Lawrence stated. “He actually obtained the followers riled up. It was enjoyable. It was a blast.”

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