NORMAN - It shouldn't come as a shock, but even for highly talented athletes capable of playing ball at a place like Oklahoma - football is hard.
Just ask reserve safety Omarion Robinson . The second-year player, who logged only 36 defensive snaps per Pro Football Focus a season ago, had some slight struggles learning to play both strong and free safety in Brent Venables'defense.
"It's hard, but toward the end of the season last year I had switched to free (safety) so I can learn both and be more in the rotation," Robinson said after the Sooners' practice on Tuesday .
Robinson spent much of the beginning of 2025 playing the opposite safety spot. Following the Kent State game, he didn't see any action. His insertion into the free safety spot allowed him to get on the field late in the year against Tennessee and Missouri .
Oklahoma safety Omarion Robinson works through a drill at one of the Sooners' spring practices. | Ryan Chapman / Sooners on SI
Now, with a full offseason nearly under his belt, Robinson is prepping for a bigger role. How did Robinson get into a better place with his position? The old-fashioned way. He studied up.
"This year, coming into the offseason I got deeper in the playbook, like knowing what I'm doing so that when we get out there I won't have any mess-ups," Robinson said. "You'll still have mess-ups. I won't say it's too hard, but it's something that I want to do and help me grow."
What was once difficult is now becoming easier to navigate for the young Robinson. His familiarity with both positions puts him in a great spot to spell either Peyton Bowen or Michael Boganowski.
"I feel like I have a good chance of playing. All I need to do is know what I'm doing on the field, communicate, line up," Robinson said.
Oklahoma running back Lloyd Avant stiff arms safety Omarion Robinson in the spring game. | Carson Field / Sooners On SI
At a school with big expectations, it's easy to forget that sometimes players just need time. It's easy to forget that playing football at OU, starting for OU, or earning a rotational spot at OU is not easy. For Robinson, last season was hard.
Now, with the season mere weeks away? Just ask him.
"It's not hard, you know? So, if I just get on the field, it's football," Robinson said. "We've been playing football for years, so it's like we get out there just another day playing football."
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/oklahoma as Oklahoma's Omarion Robinson Feels More At Ease After 'Getting Deeper in the Playbook' .
