As the Oklahoma Sooners look to push for a winning season in 2025, they could call on their upcoming 2025 class to help turn their fortunes around. Their 2024 class gave them plenty of highlight performances with the likes of Eli Bowen, Jayden Jackson, Taylor Tatum, Xavier Robinson, and Michael Boganowski. Their 2025 class could give them much the same impact. 

Who are some key freshman playmakers to watch out for in the 2025 season?

3 Sooners freshmen who can become breakout stars in 2025

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WR Elijah Thomas

Four-star wide receiver Elijah Thomas is an elite athlete with tremendous upside, so it's no surprise that he's drawing in some rave reviews and that analysts are excited about his potential. 

Can he start for the Sooners? I wouldn't rule it out, given his talent level. I wrote about this last month when I broke down the team's depth chart, but their wide receiver room behind Deion Burks feels wide open. The duo of Javonnie and Jayden Gibson seem like they will be the next men up, but who knows what Jayden will look like off of a tough foot injury and how Javonnie will adjust from Arkansas Pine-Bluff to the SEC.

If Elijah Thomas is as talented as we think he can be and picks up the offense quick, I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes a key playmaker for the Sooners down the stretch of the season. The team needs playmakers, and his athleticism makes him an intriguing option to be a difference-maker for Oklahoma. 

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OT Ryan Fodje

Five-star offensive tackle recruit Michael Fasusi has plenty of attention, but there's just as much buzz surrounding four-star Ryan Fodje. Fodje boasts elite tools in his own right and has grown his game fundamentally to the point many think he could become a starter as early as this season. 

Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh doesn't often play freshmen, but Fodje has the tools and makeup to push for playing time early on in his Sooners' career. 

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CB Trystan Haynes

Oklahoma enjoyed a fantastic breakout season from freshman cornerback Eli Bowen last season. Who says they can't do it again with another talented freshman? A two-way star on offense and defense, Haynes was a top-100 recruit in the 2024 class playing both receiver and cornerback. However, it seems like his home with the Sooners is at corner. 

He has the size, speed, and ball skills to be a premier ballhawk on the perimeter for the Sooners. With Oklahoma's cornerback depth unproven and wide-open, Haynes could see plenty of playing time early on if he picks up the defense quickly.