Pair of freshmen pushing Oklahoma into good kind of hard decisions

USA Today

2 days ago

After last year's struggles up front, Oklahoma offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh has some decisions to make during the Sooners' fall camp.
A pair of freshmen - guard Ryan Fodje and tackle Michael Fasusi - have shown through nine practices they're ready to help patch things up on the line in 2025. The question is whether Bedenbaugh believes the two teenagers can do it as starters or if they need a bit more seasoning by playing rotationally as reserves.
So far, he hasn't made a decision.
"As of right now, they're going to play," Bedenbaugh said. "Whether they start or not, we'll see. I think we're in the ninth practice, but they've proved enough to have a chance to get on the field."
'I hate to put unreal expectations on them,' Bedenbaugh said. 'You know me, I'm an honest dude. I haven't had — and we've got good players, really good, guys that are All-Pros. I haven't had anybody like them at that age, just overall. They aren't afraid. They aren't afraid who they're blocking. Whether Fasusi gets his (butt) kicked by R Mason (Thomas) or not, he ain't scared. He's going out there to win. Ryan Fodje's the same exact way. He's going to line up again and he's going to have confidence. He's going to learn from that.'
Senior Jacob Sexton is penciled in as the team's starter at left tackle after making four starts, and another four starts at left guard, last year before injuries knocked him out for the final third of the season. Fasusi, the No. 8 recruit in the country according to 247Sports, projects as a left tackle, too.
If Sexton were to move back to left guard, instead, the competition includes sophomore Heath Ozaeta, who started eight games at the position last year, and Eddy Pierre-Louis, who played in four games in 2024. Bedenbaugh has to decide whether it's worth moving Pierre-Louis or Ozaeta out of the lineup to get the freshman in or letting the top-10 recruit rotate on occasion, mainly as a back-up to a fourth-year senior.
Fodje, who profiles as a right guard, is behind Febechi Nwaiwu in the pecking order. Nwaiwu was the only Sooners offensive lineman to start all 13 games in 2024. But it was still for a line that allowed the most sacks in all of FBS last year.
But if Fodje and Fasusi figure things out quickly, they may end up forcing Bedenbaugh's hand. Either way, the Sooners have options and it's unlikely OU plays the way up front in 2025 the same as it did in 2024.
"It's really like anybody," Bedenbaugh said of his freshmen. "Just consistency. It's not the flash things that they do, it's not the freaky athleticism. It's doing things right over and over."
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