Can the Sooners' Offensive Line Drive the Wagon?

By Jay Berry

The Oklahoma Sooners are preparing for their first football season as an SEC member in 2024 as head coach Brent Venables enters his third year in charge.

However, the team is concerned about its offensive line, as it is replacing all five of last year's starters. Additionally, the team has a new offensive coordinator, Seth Littrell, which makes the offense a question mark going into the 2024 season.

Reports suggested that the Oklahoma Sooners' offensive line faces challenges in selecting the proper personnel. If these reports are accurate, it could be a significant obstacle for the Sooners as they prepare to move to the SEC.

The Oklahoma team is fortunate to have Bill Bedenbaugh as their tenured offensive line coach since 2013. Bedenbaugh has built a strong reputation as one of the country's best offensive line talent developers. In 2017, 2018, and 2019, he was acknowledged as one of Rivals.com's top 25 recruiters. He was also a finalist for the Broyles Award in 2017 and a semifinalist in 2018, given to the nation's top assistant coach.

Bedenbaugh is facing his biggest challenge yet this season: replacing a line with 157 college starts with an inexperienced unit of freshmen and transfers. As someone who used to play offensive line, I know that the success of a football offense heavily relies on the ability of the line to block and the quarterback to execute.

Oklahoma's 2024 team will heavily depend on transfer players for experience. Four of its six upperclassmen will be brand-new players in the program. Spencer Brown and Michael Tarquin are the only players in their last year of eligibility.

Febechi Nwaiwu and Geirean Hatchett are expected to be the starting guards for the Sooners' 2024 season unless someone else stands out. Nwaiwu and Hatchett bring valuable experience to the team, likely impacting Bedenbaugh's depth chart decisions.

Troy Everett will be considered for the starting center position. He is Oklahoma's most experienced returning player along the offensive line. Jacob Sexton, who started four games at right tackle in 2023, closely follows him.

Jake Taylor is the only sophomore player among the offensive linemen on the roster. Joshua Bates, Logan Howland, and Heath Ozaeta all used their redshirts as freshmen in 2023. It would be a significant boost for the group if a player from the 2023 class, like Taylor, stepped up and became a key player this season.

The first-year freshmen in this unit are inspiring, with individuals such as Eugene Brooks, Eddy Pierre-Louis, and Daniel Akinkunmi contributing to the mix. These three players bring exceptional athleticism to the room and could secure immediate roles if they can learn the offense on a steeper learning curve.

Due to roster challenges and a demanding SEC schedule, the Sooners may not replicate last year's 10-win season. The team may need to rely on their defense and defensive-minded head coach Brent Venables, especially early in the season. If the offensive line becomes an effective, aggressive, and physical unit, the Sooners' chances of success will drastically increase this year.

Oklahoma will open their 2024 season at home against Temple. Their SEC schedule begins with a home game against Tennessee on September 21st, followed by their first SEC road game against Auburn on September 28th.