The Oklahoma Sooners lost all five starters from last year's offensive line room, throwing that room into chaos. The Sooners pursued numerous transfers in the offseason to rebuild that room. It has seemingly worked, as transfers are set to start at three positions along their offensive line.
USC transfer Michael Tarquin is set to start at left tackle, SMU transfer Branson Hickman is ready to go at center, and North Texas transfer Febechi Nwaiwu is holding the fort at right guard.
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Tackle convert Jacob Sexton returns to solidify the interior, kicking inside to guard after playing both tackle spots in 2023.
There's only one OR along the offensive line, with right tackle up for grabs between returning redshirt sophomore Jake Taylor and Michigan State transfer Spencer Brown.
This is an interesting group to look at. Plenty of guys have swapped around positions, with the left side having the most interesting outcome.
I'm pretty surprised at Tarquin being the main, uncontested name at left tackle. Tarquin has just 69 snaps at left tackle in his career, but over 1,000 at right tackle. A position flip here is pretty surprising, but the Sooners might not have had a choice.
Jacob Sexton played both left and right tackle last year, ending the season at right tackle. Much like Tarquin, Sexton is flipping sides and moving inside. These moves aren't easy switches to make. Both left tackle and left guard having this kind of turnover is mildly concerning since it will be Jackson Arnold's blindside.
Oklahoma left Sexton as a redshirt last season, seeing three games at the start of the season and one snap against Arizona in the bowl game. With limited action in three years and an underwhelming offseason from Spencer Brown, right tackle still being an OR is a concern.
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The two transfers to be excited about are center Branson Hickman and right guard Febechi Nwaiwu. Hickman might be the most underrated player on the Sooners, with some really intriguing film at center. His movement skills are pretty good on film, and his experience as a three-year starter will be helpful to Jackson Arnold in his first season.
Nwaiwu is the true definition of a mauler. At 339 pounds, the former North Texas walk-on is the anchor for Oklahoma's offensive line. Nwaiwu's anchor in pass protection and his power to move defenders in the run game will be critical.
Oklahoma has been an offensive line factory under OL coach Bill Bedenbaugh. With this much turnover, new additions, and position flips, this will be Bedenbaugh's toughest test yet. To make matters worse, Oklahoma plays plenty of defensive line talent this year in their inaugural season in the SEC.
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