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Oklahoma Sooners taking major steps to reinforce weakest unit of 2024 season with their upcoming 2026 recruiting class

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By AJ Schulte | Last updated Jun 8, 2025 6:33 PM ET

If you have read many of my articles discussing the state of the offensive line for the Oklahoma Sooners, particularly from last season, you'll know I've referenced their poor recruiting tactics that partially led to that unit struggling.

What I mean by that is that the 2024 unit was shaking off the last poor showings of Lincoln Riley's inability and reluctance to recruit offensive linemen. This exposed the Sooners' lack of depth heading into 2024, forcing them to rely on the transfer portal to supplement their starting unit. At one point last season, four of the Sooners' five starters were all transfers. That isn't a sustainable or reliable strategy for building the trenches, and it played a factor in Oklahoma's struggles here last season.

Fortunately, it seems Brent Venables has learned that lesson and has given offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh the keys to the car. Bedenbaugh made that faith pay off in the 2025 recruiting class, landing elite five-star tackle Michael Fasusi and four-star Ryan Fodje, as well as a couple of other intriguing talents in Darius Afalava and Owen Hollenbeck.

He's aiming to keep that momentum rolling, starting with four-star talent Noah Best.

New #Sooners Rivals FutureCast

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2026 OG Noah Best
6’4” / 290
Midlothian HS (Midlothian, TX)
✍️ By Kenny Van Doren
⬇️ Missouri Recruiting Analyst

Profile: https://t.co/VWwfnTr8Pa #L26ENDARY pic.twitter.com/0WkD1ePRQ0
— Covered Wagons Recruiting (@OUCrystalBall) June 8, 2025

The Sooners are obviously in good shape with Best, who seems likely to commit in the coming days. Best, who might end up at center for Oklahoma, was a high-priority target, as the Sooners are looking to find their future anchor up front, and that seems reflected in how hard Bedenbaugh gunned for him in his recruitment.

However, Bedenbaugh isn't stopping there. Four-star IOL Deacon Schmitt was part of Oklahoma's major recruiting event this weekend alongside Best. Joining that duo was another four-star offensive lineman in Desmond Green. All three enjoyed a strong visit with Bedenbaugh, Venables, and the rest of the Sooners' staff. All of them are part of Oklahoma's plans for the future up front.

For now, as with anything in recruiting, nothing is certain, but it's clear that Oklahoma and Bill Bedenbaugh are no longer playing around with the trenches. If they rebound the way they expect in 2025, their momentum will only keep building for the future.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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