Sooner in Tampa
5/9/2012, 07:34 AM
Hmmm...
We noted Tuesday that wide receiver Jalen Saunders had decided to transfer from Fresno State to Oklahoma (http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/08/fresno-state-wr-transferring-to-sooners/).
As it turns out, a player on the other side of the ball has decided to do the same, destination-wise, as well.
According to multiple media outlets, cornerback Cortez Johnson has decided to transfer to the Sooners (http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20120508_92_0_Itappe623949&rss_lnk=92). Arizona announced back in late March that Johnson had decided to leave the football program in order to be closer to his Louisiana hometown. It was originally thought Johnson would end up at Louisiana Tech (http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/31/corner-leaving-arizona-likely-headed-to-latech/) with former UA offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes.
Heading to Norman will still serve as a reunion for Johnson, though. Mike Stoops, fired as the Wildcats’ head coach last year, is back on the OU coaching staff, as is former UA assistant Tim Kish.
The combination of the familiarity with the coaching staff as well as a weekend visit to the Norman campus sealed the deal for Johnson.
“I just wanted to get back with Coach Stoops and be closer to home,” Johnson said. “Oklahoma – it just felt right (http://espn.go.com/blog/colleges/oklahoma/post/_/id/8580/sooners-adding-arizona-transfer-cortez-johnson). Everything went great and fell right in place.”
As a true freshman in 2011, Johnson played in eight games for the Wildcats. He was expected to compete for significant playing time, if not a starting job, in UA’s secondary this year under first-year head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Like Saunders, Johnson will be forced to sit out the 2012 season in order to satisfy NCAA transfer rules.
We noted Tuesday that wide receiver Jalen Saunders had decided to transfer from Fresno State to Oklahoma (http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/08/fresno-state-wr-transferring-to-sooners/).
As it turns out, a player on the other side of the ball has decided to do the same, destination-wise, as well.
According to multiple media outlets, cornerback Cortez Johnson has decided to transfer to the Sooners (http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/OU/article.aspx?subjectid=92&articleid=20120508_92_0_Itappe623949&rss_lnk=92). Arizona announced back in late March that Johnson had decided to leave the football program in order to be closer to his Louisiana hometown. It was originally thought Johnson would end up at Louisiana Tech (http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/31/corner-leaving-arizona-likely-headed-to-latech/) with former UA offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes.
Heading to Norman will still serve as a reunion for Johnson, though. Mike Stoops, fired as the Wildcats’ head coach last year, is back on the OU coaching staff, as is former UA assistant Tim Kish.
The combination of the familiarity with the coaching staff as well as a weekend visit to the Norman campus sealed the deal for Johnson.
“I just wanted to get back with Coach Stoops and be closer to home,” Johnson said. “Oklahoma – it just felt right (http://espn.go.com/blog/colleges/oklahoma/post/_/id/8580/sooners-adding-arizona-transfer-cortez-johnson). Everything went great and fell right in place.”
As a true freshman in 2011, Johnson played in eight games for the Wildcats. He was expected to compete for significant playing time, if not a starting job, in UA’s secondary this year under first-year head coach Rich Rodriguez.
Like Saunders, Johnson will be forced to sit out the 2012 season in order to satisfy NCAA transfer rules.