When Oklahoma last stepped off the field, it was after a 55-19 mauling by Southern California at the Orange Bowl. It was the only blemish on an otherwise spectacular 2004 season.

Fairly or unfairly, the secondary took much of the blame for the Bowl Championship Series title-game debacle.

That’s water under the bridge. The safeties from last year’s team, Brodney Pool and Donte Nicholson, are gone. Cornerback Antonio Perkins followed them to the NFL. Even Bo Pelini, last season’s secondary coach, bolted for LSU in the offseason.

This season will definitely be one of transition for OU’s secondary, which remains one of the biggest question marks on the team.

But co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Bobby Jack Wright doesn’t consider that a bad thing. Competition makes players better and there’s been plenty of it at the positions under his watch.

“If you don’t come out and play everyday, then those jobs don’t belong to any individual, they belong to the University of Oklahoma,” Wright said. “Our guys know that, and we preach that to them every day that every practice you have to come out and compete to win a job.”

It’s a philosophy that runs throughout OU’s roster. The best players play. Age and experience don’t matter. The philosophy shows in the secondary.

D.J. Wolfe was ha highly-touted running back last season. But he saw his playing opportunities limited by the emergence of Adrian Peterson. He moved to cornerback in the spring and has moved atop of the depth chart this preseason.

“I’m a cornerback now,” he said. “This is all I think about.”

OU coach Bob Stoops has been impressed.

“D.J. has made great strides,” Stoops said. “He is getting more aggressive the more he feels at home. He has the ability to do well there.”

Wright feels the same way about the rest of the secondary. Senior Chijioke Onyenegecha has earned a spot atop the chart at the other corner.

Sophomore Marcus Walker, who started the final five games last season after coming out of redshirt, has been slowed by shoulder injuries dating back to last season. Still, when healthy, he should see plenty of playing time.

Eric Bassey, a senior, should too.

“I feel pretty good about the two-deep,” Wright said. “Our corners have really had a great camp and they continue to impress me.”