Months of offseason speculation came into focus Monday morning as head coach Brent Venables and the Sooners released their depth chart ahead of Friday night’s opener against UTEP.
Following a lower-body injury to senior center Jake Maikkula, sophomore Ryan Fodje will slide over from right guard and take the reins at center in Week 1. Western Kentucky transfer Caleb Nitta and freshman Noah Best were also considered, but ultimately, Fodje won the position battle to start the season. The sophomore played in all 13 games as a freshman last season, starting six.
Behind Fodje, it will be senior Colorado State transfer Llyod Avant or junior Xavier Robinson starting in the backfield. Avant impressed in fall camp after putting up 417 rushing yards and 261 in the air in Fort Collins last season. Robinson spent much of the offseason recovering from an injury but remains in starting contention after recording 421 rushing yards and 106 in the air for the Sooners last year.
Fifth-year tight ends Hayden Hansen and Rocky Beers are in contention to start at tight end. Hansen brings four years of Southeastern Conference experience, transferring from Florida after recording 254 receiving yards in 2025. Beers arrived in Norman after finishing with 388 receiving yards at Colorado State last season.
Adepoju “PJ” Adebawore and Danny Okoye are still fighting to start at defensive end. Adebawore comes off recording 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks in his junior season as a Sooner. Okoye finished with six tackles and sacks in his sophomore season.
OU will kick off against UTEP at 7 p.m. Friday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on SEC Network +.
