With the first game of the season for the Oklahoma Sooners rapidly approaching, we are getting closer and closer to the first official depth chart being released for the 2025 iteration of the Sooners. Entering a pivotal year, the Sooners must maximize this roster. Fortunately, it’s one of the most talented in recent memory.

On the flip side of that equation, the talent has made for some intense battles that could continue well into the season at several spots. That means that a lot of these spots are completely wide open, and in true OU fashion, will likely be labeled with plenty of ORs. With that in mind, who is in line to start at each position?

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Oklahoma Sooners 2025 Depth Chart Predictions

Offense

QB
1st: John Mateer
2nd: Michael Hawkins Jr.
3rd: Whitt Newbauer

To no one’s surprise, John Mateer is obviously going to be the starting quarterback for the Sooners in 2025.

It has been an interesting battle for the QB2 spot, however. Newbauer has been impressive in camp and the staff loves his toolsy 6’6 frame. However, I think Hawkins has the nod as the primary backup if something happens to Mateer.

RB
1st: Jaydn Ott

2nd: Jovantae Barnes OR Xavier Robinson

3rd: Taylor Tatum OR Tory Blaylock

We’ll see if Ott is an outright starter for week one after returning from injury rest this week, but I don’t expect him to play a lot in the Sooners’ first game against Illinois State.

The rest of the rotation is one big shrug, but the staff loves Jovantae Barnes, and Xavier Robinson is too talented to ignore. Don’t be surprised to see Tatum and Blaylock earn a pretty big chunk of carries and snaps either.

WR
1st: Deion Burks-Zion Kearney-Isaiah Sategna

2nd: Elijah Thomas-Keontez Lewis-Jacob Jordan

3rd: Jer’Michael Carter-Ivan Carreon

This is probably the hardest position room on the Sooners’ to figure out right now simply because the team has so many options. Burks and Sategna are the two players I am most comfortable locking in as starters, but the rest feels like a week-to-week basis.

However, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle has frequently highlighted Kearney as one of the best playmakers on the roster, and that has to count for something.

TE
1st: Will Huggins

2nd: Jaren Kanak OR Kaden Helms

3rd: Carson Kent

Huggins is the likeliest candidate to be the “starter”, given his ability as a blocker. However, this entire position room feels like it will be a complete rotation, so take anything listed here with a grain of salt.

LT
1st: Jacob Sexton
2nd: Michael Fasusi

Fasusi has made a seriously strong push to earn the outright starting job, but I think the staff is going to lean on seniority here for Week 1, especially after Fasusi’s slight medical scare this week.

Don’t be surprised if Fasusi is starting by Texas though.

LG
1st: Heath Ozaeta
2nd: Eddy Pierre-Louis

Despite a strong push from Eddy Pierre-Louis, Ozaeta has been running with the ones since he came back from injury, and I don’t think he’s going to give this job up anytime soon. I’d expect EPL to get plenty of playing time in Week One, but it’ll be a tough battle for him to unseat Ozaeta.

C
1st: Troy Everett
2nd: Jake Maikkula

This has reportedly been a fierce competition in camp, and Maikkula has made a serious bid for the starting job. In the end though, Everett has run with the ones throughout camp, and it would take a lot to knock him out of the lineup.

However, Everett has struggled with injuries frequently in his career, so don’t rule out Maikkula earning the job this season if Everett goes down.

RG
1st: Febechi Nwaiwu
2nd: Ryan Fodje

Reportedly, Nwaiwu has dropped weight in an effort to fit Oklahoma’s new scheme and has been the Sooners’ most consistent linemen throughout camp. While stud freshman Ryan Fodje has made a strong push for the job, I think this will be Nwaiwu’s job the entire season.

RT
1st: Derek Simmons
2nd: Logan Howland

Simmons may or may not play in Week One while he’s working back from concussion protocol, but it’s safe to assume he is the team’s starting right tackle for the foreseeable future. Logan Howland made the move from left to right in camp, and he’s been a strong contributor for Oklahoma so far.

Defense

DE
1st: R Mason Thomas-Taylor Wein OR Marvin Jones Jr.

2nd: PJ Adebawore-Danny Okoye

RMT is obviously locked in as a starter, but the rest of the defensive end room is completely up in the air. However, Taylor Wein and Marvin Jones Jr have been the two players mentioned the most in conversations surrounding the opposite starting job.

Don’t be surprised if this one becomes situational week by week as the player with the hot hand rotates in frequently. This position might be the most rotated of the entire lineup.

DT
1st: Damonic Williams OR Jayden Jackson-Gracen Halton OR David Stone

2nd: Markus Strong-Siolaa Lolohea

3rd: Nigel Smith II-Ace Hodges

The order for this one doesn’t particularly matter as much, as the lineup is determined entirely by situation and opposing personnel. The top four are set in stone. Markus Strong has reportedly enjoyed a strong camp, and Nigel Smith II is a youngster the staff is intrigued by.

WILL
1st: Kip Lewis
2nd: James Nesta

No battle to see here. Kip Lewis is a team leader and one of the best linebackers in the country.

MIKE:
1st: Kobie McKinzie OR Samuel Omosigho

2nd: Owen Heinicke

The MIKE ‘backer spot is a stiff competition between Kobie McKinzie and Samuel Omosigho. I think the staff will lean towards McKinzie to start, but the natural tools of Omosigho are going to be hard to leave off the field for too long.

Cheetah
1st: Kendal Daniels
2nd: Reggie Powers III

Cheetah is a weird position to figure out, but it seems like this will be Daniels’ home for the 2025 season. However, the staff has mentioned this being rotational depending on opposing personnel and situation, so don’t be surprised if several players frequent here.

CB
1st: Gentry Williams-Courtland Guillory OR Devon Jordan OR Kendel Dolby

2nd: Jacobe Johnson-Jeremiah Newcombe

Eli Bowen likely won’t play this week while he works back from a foot injury, but he would normally be locked in as a starter.

I feel comfortable locking in Gentry Williams as one starter, but the other starting spot is wide open. The staff made a point of moving Dolby from Cheetah to cornerback, a more “comfortable” spot for him, so it seems like he’s set to take a fairly large role outside now. However, youngsters Courtland Guillory and Devon Jordan have made seriously strong pushes to start here as well, making this a difficult battle to figure out.

FS
1st: Robert Spears-Jennings
2nd: Jaydan Hardy

Much like WILL, no battle here. Spears-Jennings is a true leader of the team and will return back to his free safety spot for one final run with the Sooners.

SS
1st: Peyton Bowen OR Reggie Powers III

2nd: Michael Boganowski

Both Bowen and Powers have been standouts in camp, and there’s no easy answer to be had here between the two of them. I wouldn’t be surprised if that battle continues into the season, but it’s clear the staff wants to create as many ways they can get both on the field this season.

Special Teams

Kicker
1st: Tate Sandell
2nd: Austin Welch OR Liam Evans

Punter
1st: Jacob Ulrich

Long Snapper
1st: Ben Anderson
2nd: Seth Freeman

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