Korie Black and Jabbar Muhammad are Ready for New Roles in 2022

STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State defense is going to have a bit of a different look to it going into the 2022 season. There’s a new defensive coordinator, two new starting linebackers, a new starting safety and two new starting corners.

However, there will be a familiar look and feel to the position as the starting corners this fall will be Korie Black and Jabbar Muhammad, two players who saw significant playing time in 2021 as they each played in all 14 games. While it wasn’t every game, they also saw some decent playing time in 2020 as well.

Pokes Report

Caption

“We got to rotate these past two years; we didn’t start, but we got to experience what it was,” said Korie Black. “So, now I think we’re ready.”

As mentioned above, both Black and Muhammad played in all 14 games. Black recorded 19 total tackles, 12 of which were solo stops, including a season-high three coming against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. He also recovered three fumbles, which placed him No. 3 in the FBS. He also recorded a blocked FG against Baylor in the Big 12 title game.

As for Muhammad, he finished with 23 total tackles, which ranked third among OSU corners last season. He also had 18 solo tackles. His best performance of the season came against Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl as he recorded eight tackles and two pass breakups.

“Yeah, it was, you could say that it was a growing up moment for me and Jabbar because we got to play a lot of reps,” Black said of the Fiesta Bowl.

Jarrick Bernard-Converse hit the transfer portal to LSU shortly after the bowl game and Christian Holmes is headed for the NFL Draft as he was one of the top performers at OSU’s Pro Day earlier this week. Both were All-Big 12 selections following the season, so losing them is definitely a hit.

Oklahoma State Athletics

Jabbar Muhammad in the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame

“It happened fast,” Korie Black said of becoming one of the older players. “Playing and learning by Jarrick [Bernard-Converse] and [Christian Holmes] and the others that we had, it came fast, though, for me and Jabbar [Muhammad]. We’re ready for it though.”

The goal now for Black and Muhammad, other than preparing for new roles in 2022, will be to help bring the younger corners along as Bernard-Converse and Holmes did.

De’Kelvion Beamon, Raymond Gay II, Cam Smith and Kale Smith are a redshirt freshmen and Dylahn McKinney is a true freshman.

“It’s really important; I think we’ve got em, well I know we got em,” Black said of good players behind him. “I feel like me and Jabbar can lead in the right way and develop those guys and get them ready.”

Even though this season is going to be different for both Black and Muhammad, the past two seasons, especially 2021, has certainly gone a long way in helping prepare them.

“I feel like we’ve been prepared, me and Jabbar, because we’ve always had that mindset coming in that this is what we wanted,” said Black. “So, I feel like it’s nothing really, just keep our foot on the pedal.”