Oklahoma defensive back announces he is stepping away from football

The Oklahoma Sooners football nation received a bit of a shock Friday after it was announced the Sooners would be losing another player. Sophomore defensive back Jeremiah Criddell announced that he will be stepping away from football effective immediately.

Criddell explains his decision to step away from the game with this statement.

“Due to multiple concussions, and exceeding the common number of head injuries, I have been advised by six-plus certified neurologists and doctors that it would be in my best interest to step away from the game of football,” he wrote. “In the past four and a half months I have had countless doctors appointments while filling shock and disbelief that my playing career could possibly be over. I love this game, I miss physically competing, and physically giving everything that I have for my brothers. Although these four and a half months seemed dark, I found a way to put one foot in front of the other. I walked into hidden blessings and found out who I am without ball.”

As he continued with his statement, the sophomore from Santa Ana, California, gave thanks and credit to those around him who helped motivate, mold, and support him. Criddell also outlined what his plans are as he prepares for a life with the possibility of never playing contact football again.

Sooners come out as signing day winners

There was a sense of concern over Oklahoma’s 2022 recruiting class after Lincoln Riley bolted for USC. There were some major defections in the Sooners’ class – namely five-star defensive lineman Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy.

But now that the smoke has cleared on Signing Day, the Sooners under new coach Brent Venables reeled in their best class since 2019.

OU did it with a Signing Day flurry that included four-star defensive lineman Gracen Halton, three-star cornerback Jamarrien Burt, four-star defensive lineman R Mason Thomas and four-star EDGE Kevonte Henry.

It’s the type of run that has prospects across the country fired up about the Sooner program. It also gives the OU coaches fuel to attack the 2023 recruiting class with gusto.