Oklahoma’s Week 1 injury picture has a familiar theme: the Sooners are dealing with issues up front before they’ve even played a snap, but they did get one encouraging update at receiver.
The biggest question mark entering Friday night’s 7 p.m. CT opener against UTEP at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is the offensive line, where Oklahoma is already shuffling pieces while trying to keep the group as close to full strength as possible for next week’s trip to No. 16 Michigan.
Starting center Jake Maikkula is out for the matchup with UTEP. Maikkula, who started 10 games last season, sprained his MCL during a fall camp scrimmage and was initially expected to miss 4-6 weeks, which would put his return at Week 2 against Michigan at the earliest. The good news for OU is that Maikkula was back practicing earlier this week, a sign he may be moving ahead of that original timeline.
His absence leaves the Sooners with a new answer at center. The original plan had Ryan Fodje sliding over from right guard, but that option is off the table now that Fodje is also out after suffering a knee injury at practice this week. A negative MRI ruled out anything serious, but Oklahoma is holding him out Friday as a precaution with Michigan in mind.
That means the center spot will be handled by either Western Kentucky transfer Caleb Nitta or freshman Noah Best, who stood out throughout fall camp. Nitta was listed as the backup behind Fodje on the initial depth chart, but both players are expected to see significant time at center.
At right guard, the likely answer is Heath Ozaeta. He and Best were listed as co-starters on the initial depth chart when the thought was that Fodje would move to center, but with Best now expected to spend at least some time at center, Ozaeta should man the guard spot.
There was better news at wide receiver, where Parker Livingstone is available after being in concussion protocol since last week. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Friday that Livingstone will make his OU debut. The 6-foot-3 transfer from Texas gives quarterback John Mateer another option in a receiver group that already includes Virginia transfer Trell Harris and returning top target Isaiah Sategna.
In Other News...
Danny Saili Is Already Forcing His Way Into Oklahomas Plans
Danny Sailis move to Oklahoma has already started to pay off for the Sooners. The former Arkansas linebacker, now cleared by the NCAA, was on the field for Oklahomas season opener and has wasted little time getting comfortable in Brent Venables defense, a system that asks a lot from its linebackers and rewards players who can pick things up quickly.
What has stood out most inside the building is how seamlessly Saili has fit in with the group. Coaches and teammates have pointed to his experience and the way he adds competition and depth, the kind of presence that can matter over the long grind of a season. For Oklahoma, the early signs suggest this was more than just a routine transfer addition. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Is Counting On Reggie Powers In A Crucial Defensive Test
Oklahoma enters the new season facing an important adjustment on defense after losing Kendal Daniels, whose strong year ended with a draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons. The Sooners are now looking for returning talent to absorb the production gap, and Reggie Powers is a central part of that plan after spending last season in a supporting role.
Powers is expected to move into the starting cheetah spot, a bigger job on a unit that wants to stay strong without Daniels presence. He has already shown excitement about the expanded opportunity, and Oklahomas confidence in the defense will depend in part on how quickly he can translate that promise into steady play. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Season Opener Said Plenty About This Team Fast
UTEPs season opener in Norman turned into a long afternoon almost immediately, with the Miners falling behind early and never finding a way to make Oklahoma uncomfortable in a 51-0 loss to the No. 10 Sooners. Scotty Walden spent his postgame remarks sorting through the obvious setbacks, with special teams standing out as a particular problem, even as he tried to keep the bigger picture in view for a roster still trying to take shape.
There was at least some encouragement for UTEP on the offensive side, and Walden said he sees room for the group to keep developing after a game like this. The schedule does not offer much time to ease into that process, either, with Michigan, Texas Southern and Oregon State all still ahead in non-conference play, so the Miners will need whatever lessons they can carry out of Week 1. [Read more 🡒]