Febechi Nwaiwu Steps Up at Center, Anchors Sooners in Crucial Win Over LSU
NORMAN - You wouldn’t have guessed it watching him on Saturday, but Febechi Nwaiwu hadn’t started a game at center since his high school days at Coppell in Texas. Yet there he was, snapping the ball in one of the biggest games of Oklahoma’s season - a gritty 17-13 win over LSU that all but punched the Sooners’ ticket to the College Football Playoff.
With regular center Jake Maikkula sidelined due to an infection, head coach Brent Venables turned to Nwaiwu, a redshirt senior who’s made his mark at right guard this season. And while the box score might not show a dominant performance, Nwaiwu’s impact was felt in the trenches - particularly in pass protection - as he played all 68 snaps at center.
“God is the one that got us to this position, got me into this position,” Nwaiwu said postgame. “I'm just forever grateful.”
The numbers tell a story of resilience and adaptability. Nwaiwu finished with a 57.7 offensive grade from Pro Football Focus - his second-lowest of the year - but that stat doesn’t capture the full picture.
He acknowledged a slow start as he adjusted to the new role, having not taken a live snap at center all season. But once he settled in, his presence became a stabilizing force up front.
“It’s just kind of getting back in the groove,” Nwaiwu said. “But I know that the next time I'm needed to play center, I'm gonna be ready.”
Where he really shined was in pass protection, posting a 75.4 grade in that department. That’s no small feat considering the communication and timing required at center - especially when you’re facing an LSU front that knows how to bring pressure.
One of his standout moments came on Deion Burks’ 45-yard touchdown off a screen pass. Nwaiwu’s block helped spring Burks into open space, and the wideout didn’t hesitate to give his lineman props.
“Febechi coming to throw himself out to block… it was dope, man,” Burks said.
Since transferring to Oklahoma in 2024 after three seasons at North Texas, Nwaiwu has become a vital cog in a Sooners offensive line that’s been forced to adapt week after week. Injuries have shuffled the deck repeatedly, pushing players into unfamiliar roles. Through it all, Nwaiwu has remained a constant - not just in performance, but in mindset.
He’s been elite at his natural position, ranking second nationally among offensive guards in pass-blocking grade with a 91.9. But he’s also proven he’s willing to move wherever the team needs him, even if it means sacrificing some of those top-tier grades.
“You have to be ready to play every position,” Nwaiwu said. “That’s how you build value for yourself. (Being able to) play every position is mandatory, especially in this league where it’s so physical and anybody can go down.”
That kind of attitude hasn’t gone unnoticed inside the program. Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle praised Nwaiwu for his no-nonsense approach when asked to slide over to center.
“Whenever we told him on Sunday, ‘Hey, you're probably gonna have to play center this week,’ he showed up on Monday ready to roll,” Arbuckle said. “It's who he's been this entire time - just always ready whenever he needs to step up, ready for his moment. He's a true leader on this offense.”
Nwaiwu’s journey is one of perseverance. He began his college career as a walk-on at North Texas. Now, he’s not only a starter on a CFP-bound Oklahoma team - he’s also a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, which honors the most outstanding player who began as a walk-on.
With the Sooners eyeing a deep postseason run, Nwaiwu isn’t looking to slow down anytime soon. This season has already been one to remember, but he’s focused on the bigger picture - helping Oklahoma chase a national title.
“I’m trying my best to step up and live up to the expectation, the standard of OU,” he said. “My years here, even last year, man, I’m just so grateful for it.”
From high school center to college guard to emergency anchor in a playoff-clinching win - Nwaiwu’s story is a testament to what can happen when talent meets preparation and selflessness. And if Oklahoma makes a run in January, don’t be surprised if No. 73 is right in the middle of it.