Evaluating the current roster, Sooners Wire profiles the current players, with cornerback D.J. Graham up next.
After playing a part-time role for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2020, cornerback D.J. Graham earned an expanded role in 2021. This time last season, there was an expectation that Graham would be one of the Sooners’ breakout players. While he made one of the great plays of the season with his interception against Nebraska, his play throughout the season was up and down.
According to Pro Football Focus, Graham allowed five receptions in a game three times last season and a completion percentage of 63.4%. Though he saw a significant snap increase from 2020 to 2021, Graham only allowed 10 receptions in 2020 and didn’t allow a touchdown.
Due for a bounceback season armed with a new position coach and defensive scheme, Graham needs to return to the player that showed so much promise a couple of seasons ago for the Sooners’ defense to improve from one of the worst pass defenses in the country in 2021. With Jay Valai, who coached Graham prior to coming to Oklahoma, an improved season in 2022 isn’t out of the question.
Preseason Player Profile
Hometown: Keller, TX
Ht: 6-0
Wt: 178
247Sports Composite Ranking
Three-Star // No. 22 CB // No. 63 in Texas
Class in 2021: Sophomore
Career Stats:
| Tack | Tack | Tack | Tack | Tack | Def | Def | Def | Def | Fumb | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Class | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | PD | FF |
| *2020 | FR | 6 | 15 | 5 | 20 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 8 | 8.0 | 1 | 0 |
| *2021 | SO | 12 | 25 | 10 | 35 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 1 |
| Career | 40 | 15 | 55 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 8 | 4.0 | 3 | 1 |
PFF Rankings (Team Rankings)
| Grades | Def Grade | Rush Def | Tackling | Coverage |
| Graham | 62.3 (23rd) | 65.6 (15th) | 72.7 (14th) | 60.6 (18th) |
Depth Chart Overview
Though Graham is an incumbent starter, to hear Brent Venables tell it, every position is up for grabs. Considering the nature of his 2021 season, it’s safe to assume D.J. Graham is in the thick of a position battle this offseason. He’ll be challenged by Kani Walker, Jaden Davis, and Joshua Eaton for snaps on the outside.
Player Photo Gallery
NCAA Football: Nebraska at Oklahoma
Sep 18, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) and wide receiver Drake…
Sep 18, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) and wide receiver Drake Stoops (12) celebrate the victory against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Texas Christian at Oklahoma
Oct 16, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) in action during the…
Oct 16, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) in action during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: The Oklahoman
Oklahoma's D.J. Graham (9) brings down TCU's Kendre Miller (33) during a college football game between…
Oklahoma's D.J. Graham (9) brings down TCU's Kendre Miller (33) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021.
Ou Vs Tcu
NCAA Football: Alamo Bowl-Oregon at Oklahoma
Dec 29, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Travis Dye (26) is tackled…
Dec 29, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oregon Ducks running back Travis Dye (26) is tackled by Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) in the first half of the 2021 Alamo Bowl at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: The Oklahoman
Oklahoma's Jaden Davis (4) and D.J. Graham (9) go through drills during the University of Oklahoma's…
Oklahoma's Jaden Davis (4) and D.J. Graham (9) go through drills during the University of Oklahoma's first Spring football practice at the Everest Training Center in Norman, Oklahoma, on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.
NCAA Football: Iowa State at Oklahoma
Nov 20, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) and defensive lineman LaRon…
Nov 20, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) and defensive lineman LaRon Stokes (96) tackle Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) during the first quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Iowa State at Oklahoma
Nov 20, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) tackles Iowa State Cyclones…
Nov 20, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) tackles Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) during the first quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Iowa State at Oklahoma
Nov 20, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) tries to…
Nov 20, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson (8) tries to catch a pass as Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) defends during the first quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Nebraska at Oklahoma
Sept. 18, 2021; Norman; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (middle) makes an interception in front of…
Sept. 18, 2021; Norman; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (middle) makes an interception in front of Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Levi Falck (88) during the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Nebraska at Oklahoma
Sep 18, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (middle) makes an interception in…
Sep 18, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (middle) makes an interception in front of Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Levi Falck (88) during the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Nebraska at Oklahoma
Sep 18, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (middle) makes an interception in…
Sep 18, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (middle) makes an interception in front of Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Levi Falck (88) during the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Tulane at Oklahoma
Sep 4, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) defends the pass intended…
Sep 4, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) defends the pass intended for Tulane Green Wave wide receiver Jaetavian Toles (23) during the fourth quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Oklahoma Spring Game
Apr 24, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Mario Williams (4) makes a catch…
Apr 24, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Mario Williams (4) makes a catch as Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) defends during the spring game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Big 12 Championship-Oklahoma at Iowa State
Dec 19, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles (44) and cornerback Joshua…
Dec 19, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles (44) and cornerback Joshua Eaton (1) and cornerback Woodi Washington (0) and cornerback D.J. Graham (9) and linebacker Robert Barnes (20) on the sidelines in the third quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
No. 10: D.J. Graham, CB
NCAA Football: Nebraska at Oklahoma
Sep 18, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Justin Broiles (25) and Oklahoma Sooners…
Sep 18, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Justin Broiles (25) and Oklahoma Sooners cornerback D.J. Graham (9) reacts during the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Syndication: The Oklahoman
Cornerback D.J. Graham (9) and receiver Jayden Gibson (1) take part in team drills during the…
Cornerback D.J. Graham (9) and receiver Jayden Gibson (1) take part in team drills during the University of Oklahoma's first Spring football practice at the Everest Training Center in Norman, Okla. on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.
Ou Spring Fb Practice
