The first week of August brings the same question every program has, but Oklahoma’s answer is unusually tidy: who’s actually fighting for jobs, and who’s already in place?
The Sooners open fall camp on Wednesday, and with Year 5 under Brent Venables about to begin, most of the two-deep looks far more settled than scrambled. There are still a few spots to sort out, but this is shaping up more like a tune-up month than a full-scale roster puzzle. Venables even made it sound back in June like most of his starting defense was already set, with cheetah the main holdout.
At quarterback, the picture is simple at the top. John Mateer is the clear starter as the returning QB1, while freshman Bowe Bentley and redshirt sophomore Whitt Newbauer are set to battle for the backup job. Bentley brings more talent and is the future of the position, and with the new 5-in-5 rule removing the need to protect a redshirt, he should begin the season in the QB2 role so he can start collecting experience right away.
Running back may be the least settled spot on the offense, even if one name is currently sitting at the top. Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant made the strongest impression while Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock were sidelined in the spring, and new running backs coach Deland McCullough said Tuesday that if Oklahoma played today, Avant would lead the backfield.
That may not hold for long. Robinson still has the most obvious path to taking over, and Blaylock plus freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. remain part of the picture.
Wide receiver gives Mateer a deeper group to work with. Isaiah Sategna III returns as Mateer’s top target from 2025, and Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone were added to widen the options.
Behind them, Mackenzie Alleyne has turned heads since arriving from Washington State as a walk-on and then standing out in the spring. Elijah Thomas is another receiver with plenty of talent, and the only thing missing so far is a bigger role.
Tight end is another room that looks much different, and much stronger, under new position coach Jason Witten. Hayden Hansen arrives with 34 starts of SEC experience from Florida and should fit right in. Rocky Beers is positioned to be a major red-zone weapon, while Jack Van Dorselaer should keep building toward a bigger role down the line.
Up front, Oklahoma’s line carries a familiar look. The Sooners bring back four of five starters from 2025 in Michael Fasusi, Eddy Pierre-Louis, Jake Maikkula and Ryan Fodje. E'Marion Harris appears to have the final starting spot locked up because of his SEC experience at Arkansas, though Heath Ozaeta could push for the job and still profiles as a strong backup.
The defensive line has one real competition to watch. Taylor Wein, David Stone and Jayden Jackson appear set in place, while the edge spot opposite Wein is a battle between Adepoju “PJ” Adebawore and Danny Okoye. Okoye may be the one who eventually takes over, but Venables seems determined to give Adebawore, a former five-star recruit, the first crack.
At linebacker, Owen Heinecke and Kip Lewis have the inside spots sewn up. Cole Sullivan, who transferred from Michigan expecting to start in Heinecke’s place, gives Venables another option by sliding him to cheetah.
Reggie Powers III could also see starts there depending on the matchup. Taylor Heim sits behind Lewis at SAM.
The secondary has a returning starter in Peyton Bowen at strong safety, with Jeremiah Newcombe behind him. Michael Boganowski is set to replace Robert Spears-Jennings at free safety, while Omarion Robinson gives the Sooners a freshman option there.
Cornerback was already looking settled with Eli Bowen and Courtland Guillory, and the real concern has been depth after a mass transfer portal exodus. Jacobe Johnson is part of the mix, but Oklahoma also brought in a few more bodies through the portal, and Trystan Haynes looks like the next man who may get his chance.
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For Oklahoma, the impact could be especially relevant because one of its recent alumni may fall into that group. The Sooners are not just watching a courtroom development from afar here - they may have roster questions tied to it, and the answer could shape how one of their former players approaches the next stage of his career. [Read more 🡒]
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For a program trying to turn preseason optimism into something more substantial, that kind of placement matters. McElroys tiered breakdown separates the true playoff threats from the broader SEC field fighting for bowl eligibility, and Oklahoma landing at the top says plenty about the expectations now attached to Mateer and the Sooners. The bigger question is whether the offense can match the hype when the season starts and the pressure shifts from projection to proof. [Read more 🡒]
Trell Harris Could Change Oklahomas Receiver Ceiling Once Hes Fully Back
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Jones said Harris is expected to be running routes soon, which matters because Oklahoma wants him to complement Isaiah Sategna as a true, pure receiver. Even with fall camp opening, the wider question is less about whether Harris fits and more about how quickly he can get back to full speed and into the mix with enough time to matter. [Read more 🡒]