Rising star delivers knockout performance against Tennessee Volunteers that Oklahoma’s offensive line has needed for years
Eddy Pierre-Louis brought a significant boost to Oklahoma’s offensive line that they’ll need in their push to the College Football Playoff
The Oklahoma Sooners’ offensive line has drawn a lot of discussion surrounding its level of play this season, with much of it being critical. While most of this hasn’t been fair, as offensive line play is far more nuanced than most casual fans can really evaluate without context and a lot of the film, it’s fair to say that Oklahoma’s offensive line hasn’t quite regained its status as an elite position room….yet.
However, the Sooners are getting better as the season goes on, and their game against the Tennessee Volunteers was highly encouraging. The youth on their offensive line is shining through, and finally has provided the necessary spark the unit has needed to rebound after a truly awful 2024 season.
One of those young players is redshirt freshman Eddy Pierre-Louis, who had his breakout performance this weekend against Tennessee. Pierre-Louis (EPL) assumed the mantle at left guard and hit the ground running, delivering a tremendous outing that should provide plenty of assurance for the Sooners over their future along the interior of their offensive line.
Eddy Pierre-Louis Notes
- Former four-star recruit in the 2024 class as the 15th-ranked IOL in the class
- Committed to the Sooners over Alabama, Florida, Miami, Ohio State, Ole Miss, & Oregon
- Played 65 snaps last season at right guard, including 12 in their win over Alabama
Eddy Pierre-Louis Shines against Tennessee
Over the last few weeks, Pierre-Louis has rotated in at left guard, trying to push starter Heath Ozaeta. However, he got the starting nod against the Volunteers, and it was immediately evident as to why.
He’s just a difference maker in the run game right now. He brings a different level of physicality up front and has a completely different mindset than what the Sooners had at left guard previously. It’s evident that Pierre-Louis embodies being an offensive lineman, and that mentality of “burying your opponents” was all over his film.
This rep might be my favorite of the night in the run game. Watch EPL completely steer the defensive tackle out of the gap, clearing the way for Xavier Robinson to break through for a nice gain.
You might be wondering “If he’s this good, why didn’t he play sooner?” That also showed up on his film. It wasn’t a perfect night for EPL, especially in pass protection, with a few fundamental gaffes that popped up that made it clear why he hadn’t seen the field any sooner.
On this rep, Pierre-Louis blows his blocking assignment on the blitzing linebacker. While I’m not in the room with them to know the exact assignment, Pierre-Louis is supposed to keep his head on a swivel, allowing the running back to stick in the backfield and scan for additional threats. While I can commend him for helping Fasusi, he overextends and allows a virtually free rusher that Robinson takes a poor angle on, Mateer scrambles around because he can’t stay in the pocket at all, and the play breaks down.
He had a few other gaffes like that in pass protection throughout the night.
However, there were some encouraging reps in pass protection to build off of, and I love his mentality as a teammate. Watch him and Fasusi effortlessly pick up this T-E twist up front. EPL tees up the Tennessee defensive tackle for Fasusi with a nice physical shove before cutting off and striking the end, keeping him out of the play. That block helped spring the big play to Isaiah Sategna late in the game
There were other really encouraging moments of him looking for work in pass protection as well and helping his teammates win blocks. The chemistry between him and Fasusi already looks strong, and that should have Oklahoma fans excited about the potential of this room for the rest of the season and beyond.
For now though, the Sooners should lean on the youth of their offensive line, as Fasusi, Pierre-Louis, and Ryan Fodje have been the difference-makers this room has needed. Experience is the best teacher, and what they’ve already put out on film has been light years better than some of the vets Oklahoma has called upon over the years.
In the case of Pierre-Louis, he has locked down the left guard spot over Ozaeta, and I’m not sure it’s close. Give him time and experience to develop and iron out his pass protection problems, and the Sooners could have a top-flight guard on their hands for the first time since Ben Powers.
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