Latest news with #Maikkula
USA Today
16-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners earn commitment from transfer offensive lineman Jake Maikkula
Oklahoma Sooners earn commitment from transfer offensive lineman Jake Maikkula The Oklahoma Sooners picked up their first commitment of the spring transfer portal window, earning a pledge from former Stanford offensive lineman Jake Maikkula. Maikkula joins the Sooners with two years of eligibility remaining. He's started 20 games over the last two seasons with the Stanford Cardinal, contributing at guard and center. The Sooners get some much-needed experience for their interior offensive line. Maikkula entered the transfer portal after Stanford fired head coach Troy Taylor at the end of March. Maikkula started 11 games for the Cardinal at both left guard and center in 2024, playing 764 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. It's that kind of versatility the Oklahoma Sooners could use on the interior in 2025. Troy Everett is projected to start for the Sooners at center, but Oklahoma didn't have much experience behind Everett in second-year center Josh Aisosa or true freshman Owen Hollenbeck. We saw in 2024 how much of an issue a lack of offensive line depth could be. Maikkula also has the opportunity to push Everett or guards Eddy Pierre-Louis and Febechi Nwaiwu for opportunities with the first team offensive line. But even if Maikkula doesn't start this season, he'll have a great opportunity to start for the Sooners in 2026. The Sooners offensive line group just got better with the addition of Maikkula. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
USA Today
01-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Oklahoma Sooners expected to host transfer offensive lineman per report
Oklahoma Sooners expected to host transfer offensive lineman per report The Oklahoma Sooners will be active in the spring transfer portal window that opens for football on April 15. But with the coaching change that recently happened at Stanford, the Sooners may have the opportunity to add to their roster before the portal opens in a couple of weeks. According to Pete Nakos of On3, the Oklahoma Sooners will be hosting Stanford center Jake Maikkula. Maikkula started 11 games for the Cardinal at both left guard and center in 2024, playing 764 snaps according to Pro Football Focus. It's that kind of versatility the Oklahoma Sooners could use on the interior in 2025. Oklahoma is lacking depth on the interior. Right now, Troy Everett is projected to start at center with Febechi Nwaiwu and Eddy Pierre-Louis getting first-team snaps at the guard spots. Ryan Fodje has been getting a lot of wor at right guard and Josh Aisosa has seen the second team reps at center. But with Heath Ozaeta nursing an injury, the Sooners don't have much experience to work with behind the projected starters. Maikkula's ability to play center could pay dividends for Bill Bedenbaugh's offensive line at center and could back up one of the guard positions. The Sooners got caught without much experience along the offensive line last season after dealing with a number of injuries. They added Derek Simmons and Luke Baklenko (also from Stanford) this offseason to provide some veteran options to compete with the young offensive linemen on the roster. Simmons has emerged as a possibility to start at right tackle. Finding a depth piece in the transfer portal will be paramount for Brent Venables, Ben Arbuckle, and Bill Bedenbaugh so they don't find themselves in the same position they were in last season.
