The offensive line was the achilles heel of Oklahoma football in 2024.
The defense ranked as a top-25 unit in the country with high standings of 19th in total yards allowed per game (318.2) and 12th in stop rate (72.1%). But the offense was far from that with a 203rd national ranking in total yards per game (331.0), and as the protective layer of the group, the offensive line held responsibility. Struggles were plenty with key members of the line: senior Jacob Sexton started the first eight games before suffering an injury, redshirt senior Jake Taylor played four games due to injury, former Sooner Geirean Hatchett had a season-ending bicep surgery and senior Troy Everett missed the first five games due to knee injury.
However, past the excuses, the output on game day was simply not good enough, and in 2025, the offensive-line unit has to carry a different level of intensity.
“Our goal is to be the most explosive offense in the country, and I feel like every day, we're going out, and we're bringing intensity each and every day in practice,” sophomore offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis said. “That's the main goal that we've been talking about emphasizing every day in our practice, so really, it's just been a shock with the intensity levels – fast playing and just having explosive plays.”
While the energy has been a surprise already, it has been a welcome one, with the defensive line taking notice of it.
“I love the guys when they're pushing this daily. A lot of them, the ones that were here last year, they know they take the pains from the season,” sophomore defensive lineman David Stone said. “They made a transformation this year, so it's a lot better. I love the guys, the way they're working, where they're pushing.
“They're fighting to make us better, make the team better.”
The energy-shifted offensive line finds part of its fire in freshmen, Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje.
Fasusi, a consensus five-star and top-25 national prospect, was ranked as the nation’s No. 2 offensive tackle out of high school, according to ESPN and Rivals, and selected for the 2025 Under Armour All-American Bowl and the 2025 Polynesian Bowl. Fodje, on the other hand, a four-star recruit, was rated as the No. 10 offensive tackle prospect by On3 and selected to the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl. He also helped lead Bridgeland High School to a 9-2 record and Texas 6A D-I playoff appearance as a junior in 2023 and received District 16-6A First Team honors.
Arriving with varying accomplishments, both contribute to a new speed of competitiveness.
“Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje are athletes. It's actually insane to see how good they really are (as freshmen) … They've done really well. They're adapting well. They're really good at taking coaching, so they're taking a day at a time. Really, really enjoy watching them,” redshirt senior Derek Simmons said. “I think (the) biggest learning curve for young guys is going from a high school offense to a college offense and the speed of the game. It's a big difference, especially going from high school to SEC. You're not going to match that speed at the high school level, no matter where you are, so I think it's just a matter of picking up pace as the days go on.”
The group, though, remains young and relies on familiar and unfamiliar leaders between Everett and Simmons.
Everett, who spent part of last year on the sideline, started a combined 11 games in 2023 and 2024 and received OU’s Bob Kalsu Award in 2024 (presented for leadership and serving as a role model). In 2025, he continues to impact the team as a leader.
“Troy Everett, that's one of the leaders on the team ever since I got here in June,” Pierre-Louis said. “He was the one to take me under his wing and show me around, help me out with film sessions and all that (and) if I had any questions.”
Simmons, however, presents a different story as a transfer from Western Carolina.
Simmons, who holds four years of experience in college football, resides as one of the older guys on the team. In 2024, Simmons started all 10 games he played for Western Carolina, registered 612 offensive snaps and allowed zero quarterback sacks in 417 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
Despite only being on the team for a short period of time thus far, Simmons already impresses with his movement and power.
“(Derek Simmons’) been amazing. I remember watching him during winter workouts … the way he moves as an offensive lineman, I'm like, ‘Who is this guy?’ He can get out there with some of the defensive ends and look like he fits in with them (with) the way he jumps. His footwork is just next level,” Stone said. “He's a strong dude. He knows how to anchor well when it comes to playing the run. He's very physical, so him as a player, having that experience, I feel like it brings a lot to our offensive line.”
Another new face rests in Kevin Wilson, who returned to the Sooners as an offensive analyst on Feb. 17. Wilson, an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator under former head coach Bob Stoops, helped lead the Sooners to six Big 12 Championships and three national championship appearances (2003, 2004 and 2008) from 2002-10. He also won the Broyles Award in 2008, an honor given to the top assistant in college football each year. Wilson then made stops in Indiana and Tulsa as a head coach before coming home to Norman.
In 2025, Wilson embodies joy and passes on techniques that have worked in the past.
“Kevin Wilson brings intensity (and) tells me to smile every day in fact, so every time I get to smile, I will be like, ‘Coach, where’s your smile at?’ We just smile together,” Pierre-Louis said. “He's been helping me with my game as well, giving me key techniques, little fixes to help me.”
Current offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, however, provides a different energy than Wilson. Bedenbaugh, who has produced 13 NFL Draft picks in his 11 seasons at OU, pushes sharp intensity, creating an interesting dynamic.
“I notice a difference, but always coach Bedenbaugh, he's more hands on as well,” Pierre-Louis said. “His main role is to be an offensive line coach, so he has to bring that juice.
“And we bring the juice together, so that's going to make everything work.”
As the offensive line builds with coaches, experienced leaders and freshmen, Stone, who has been competing against the offensive unit in practice, has a simple message: do not allow struggles to cause you to pull back but rather push forward.
“Life is going to be difficult. You have a lot of things that (come) with being who you are,” Stone said. “Take those pressures and allow it to push you forward.”
This article was edited by Hannah Bryant.
