Sooners commit Mykel Patterson-McDonald does a Lot

Oklahoma has landed the commitment of in-state star Mykel Patterson-McDonald and now it’s time to take stock of just what kind of talent the Sooners landed. The three-star prospect from Moore (Okla.) Westmoore was offered by the Sooners in late January. He also picked up offers from Michigan State, Missouri, UNLV, Houston, and Iowa State, among others. So what had him on the radar of so many power five programs?

What’s on Tape for Mykel Patterson-McDonald

Often when writing up these breakdowns we tend to focus on physical traits. And while Patterson-McDonald has plenty of notable ones, it’s his eyes and decision making that show up on tape.

The Sooners commit could be a shut down cornerback for the Jaguars but instead head coach Lorenzo Williams and his defensive staff puts him at safety and lets him clean up any potential problems. Patterson-McDonald is a player who sees things quickly, particularly in the run game, and trusts his eyes to get downhill quickly. In the passing game if he is a step late he arrives violently, frequently separating the ball from the receiver.

And while his intelligence is hard to ignore it’s also hard to miss his closing speed. As Patterson-McDonald is making those quick decisions he comes downhill and does a great job maintaining leverage as he does it. Patterson-McDonald either makes the tackle or funnels the ball carrier back to his teammates.

The new Sooners commitment isn’t the biggest defensive back but as mentioned he’s more than willing to be physical. In the college game he’ll have to get more comfortable taking on blocks in space but it’s an aspect he can clearly grow into over time.

Sooners Commit Comparison

His positional versatility and easy burst makes for an interesting comparison to former Oklahoma defensive back Will Johnson.

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