Oklahoma freshman safety Peyton Bowen snags highlight-reel interception off Jackson Arnold

Oklahoma freshman safety Peyton Bowen is making an early splash in training camp. The team showed off a highlight play he made in a recent practice on Twitter on Tuesday evening.

On a pass deep down the right sideline, Bowen ranges over, matches his apex to the flight of the ball and reels it in with both hands. He easily gets a foot inbounds before celebrating with a teammate.

To boot, he intercepted his high school teammate and fellow freshman, quarterback Jackson Arnold.

Going up on a Tuesday. @PeytonBowen10 | #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/vvoppGg0Wt

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) August 16, 2023

Bowen played high school football at Denton (TX) Guyer, where he was a five-star prospect. He was the No. 15 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Bowen laid out some strong goals for his 2023 debut campaign

Bowen understands freshman mistakes are going to be made. Even for a five-star prospect coming out of high school immediately fighting for a starting role. He has decided to embrace the potential struggles and wants to immediately go up against some of the best college football has to offer.

“I just want to get thrown in the fire, see what I have to learn to get better at,” Bowen said via George Stoia of On3’s Sooner Scoop. “That’s the only way you can learn is losing. You’re going to lose some reps as a true freshman against these older guys who’ve gotten all this work.

“We can be playing in the (CFP) and you go against Marvin Harrison. Like, that’s the best receiver in college football right now and that’s when you’re going to learn what your weaknesses are, what your strengths are, and just hone in on that and get better.”

Before facing Harrison in a College Football Playoff matchup, Bowen will get some good reps against Big 12 wide receivers. Three of the four pass catchers from the 2023 preseason All-Big 12 first-team are present on Oklahoma’s schedule. Xavier Worthy and Ja’Tavion Sanders will be there in Dallas for the Red River Shootout, while Brennan Presley will want to make noise during the potentially last Bedlam game.

However, those two games are not until Oct. 7 and Nov. 4, respectively. Bowen will be thrown into the fire a lot earlier than Texas and Oklahoma State.

Arkansas State will be the first test for Bowen. The level of competition will gradually grow during the early stages of the season as well. SMU and Tulsa lead into a Big 12 opening road matchup against Cincinnati in what should be an electric crowd at Nippert Stadium.

Not exactly the level of facing Marvin Harrison Jr. quite yet but Bowen plans on learning throughout the entire process.