Oklahoma got the kind of update it wanted on Jake Maikkula, and now the conversation shifts to who keeps the offensive line steady while he’s out.
The Sooners’ starting center avoided a season-ending injury, a source told Sooners On SI, but his absence still leaves a hole that has to be filled. For now, Oklahoma is leaning into the next-man-up approach, and the confidence inside the room is coming from the players behind him.
Heath Ozaeta has already been asked to step in at times during fall camp, and he said the group’s flexibility matters when injuries force shuffling up front.
"Having guys who can fit in and play anywhere is important," Ozaeta said. "Depth is super important in all phases of the game."
What stands out to Ozaeta is the experience around him. Oklahoma’s offensive line has a level of continuity that hasn’t always been there, and he believes that gives the group a steadier foundation even when the lineup changes.
"There’s a lot of maturity in our room," Ozaeta said on Tuesday. "One of our biggest strengths is that we have a lot of guys returning, which hasn’t been the case in years past. Having those people around who were here last year helps, especially in the offensive line room, because of the continuity in the group."
That continuity takes a hit with Maikkula sidelined, but Ozaeta pointed to Caleb Nitta and Noah Best as the players positioned to handle the load.
Nitta brings the most obvious center experience. He started there last season for Western Kentucky and logged 653 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Against LSU late in the year, he posted a 62.6 overall grade and a 78.7 pass-blocking grade.
Ozaeta also highlighted how quickly Nitta has adapted.
"(Nitta) was an engineering major at Virginia Tech, so he’s a super smart kid. He picked it up super fast.
He’s always asking questions and always learning. He’s a really smart guy, so it’s been easy for him to pick it up and keep rolling," Ozaeta said.
Best has become one of the more talked-about freshmen in camp, and it’s easy to see why. At 6-4 and 319 pounds, he has the size to stand out, but Ozaeta said the young lineman has backed it up with how he plays and how he processes the game.
"He’s an animal," Ozaeta said. "He’s a super smart kid and great with his hands.
You see him getting better out there. He’s a freshman, so he’s going to mess up, we all do, but he corrects it the next day.
That’s super encouraging, watching someone get better."
Oklahoma will be hoping Maikkula is back as soon as possible, especially after the stability he brought last season. Until then, the Sooners are counting on maturity, versatility and enough depth to keep the standard from slipping.
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