Oklahoma Sooners 2025 depth chart projection ahead of fall camp

SEC media days are behind us, and the Oklahoma Sooners and the rest of the college football world will begin fall camp in short order. The Oklahoma Sooners begin the 2025 season in 40 days against Illinois State. After the way 2024 went, everyone's itching to see if this year's version of the squad can have a year in which they contend for the SEC or a College Football Playoff berth. The Sooners were picked to finish 10th in the SEC by the media, and that would undoubtedly be a disappointment.

Oklahoma feels like a squad that could easily surpass expectations. Though the schedule appears tough, the Sooners are a better team than they were a year ago. Get a little bit of luck on the health front, and this is a team that could be one of the biggest surprises of 2025.

It's a deeper and more experienced group than what they carried into 2024, but they'll have to answer questions in fall camp, especially on the offensive side of the ball. As we inch closer to the start of the season, here's our pre-fall camp depth chart projection for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Quarterback

John Mateer's debut with the Oklahoma Sooners may be one of the most highly anticipated in college football. He had SEC media days buzzing with his confidence and fans and analysts alike are excited to see the dual-threat quarterback on display for the crimson and cream. But the Sooners have a talented backup for 2025 in Michael Hawkins Jr.

As a true freshman, Hawkins flashed his speed and arm talent, helping the Sooners beat Auburn on the road in his first career start. Turnovers to start the game against South Carolina saw Hawkins return to backup duty, but he's got tremendous upside. With a chance to sit and learn from offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle behind Mateer, Hawkins will get an opportunity to reset and get more comfortable with Arbuckle's scheme before being called upon to be the starter.

Running Back

Though Jovantae Barnes sat out most of the spring letting his ankle injury heal and rest, he's a veteran option for the Oklahoma Sooners running back room behind Jaydn Ott. He proved to be one of the best pieces of the offense in 2024 before getting injured. Venables mentioned Barnes has been key in helping Ott transition to Oklahoma after signing out of the spring transfer portal.

Beyond Ott and Barnes, the Sooners have a talented trio of youngsters in Xavier Robinson, Taylor Tatum, and Tory Blaylock.

Robinson ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Alabama in 2024. Tatum has tremendous upside, but battled with ball security as a true freshman. Blaylock has the ability to make an impact early with incredible speed and contact balance.

Biggest question. Are there enough carries to go around?

Wide Receiver

Wide receiver is a spot that the Sooners need a big bounce-back year from. After an injury-plagued 2024, Oklahoma almost completely turned over the group. Oklahoma is banking on Deion Burks and Jayden Gibson coming back from injury, but they also added key transfers in Javonnie Gibson, Isaiah Sategna, and Jer'Michael Carter via the portal to try to provide a spark at wide receiver.

Tight End

Tight end is one of those spots that feels like a crapshoot. Will Huggins has the Power Four experience to step in and help right away, while players like Kanak and true freshman Trynae Washington have more athletic upside. Carson Kent is the wildcard here. He may provide more in the passing game than Huggins, but will his blocking hold up down in and down out?

Offensive Line

While so much attention has been put on John Mateer and Jaydn Ott, it's the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line that's the key to the 2025 season. It was a group that underperformed in 2024, in large part due to injury and inexperience.

Oklahoma made key transfer portal additions, bringing in Derek Simmons, Luke Baklenko, and Jake Maikkula. Simmons is likely to start at right tackle, while Maikkula will push center Troy Everett for a starting role.

Arguably, the most intriguing position battle is at left guard, where incumbent Heath Ozaeta will try to hold off Eddy Pierre-Louis to start for the Sooners in week one. Ozaeta had offseason surgery and missed spring ball but the experience he gained in 2024 was invaluable. He was a standout from last offseason and is looking to build off a strong finish to the season.

It's not often you see true freshmen in the two-deep, but that's how impressive Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje have been in their short time with the Sooners. When asked about what young guys could contribute, Venables mentioned the two blue-chip players at SEC media days.

Defensive Line

That defensive line two-deep looks stout. R Mason Thomas and Gracen Halton are trending toward top 100 selections in the 2026 NFL draft. Those two combined for 14 sacks last season. Marvin Jones Jr. had five sacks for Florida State, and Damonic Williams had a strong first season in Norman.

On the second team, the Sooners have a really good group of young players ready to make an impact. Jayden Jackson could end up starting for the Sooners but after missing spring ball, he may start as a rotational defensive tackle. David Stone had a good spring and looks like a player ready to make an impact this year.

When asked about defensive ends that look ready to step out and shine, Thomas mentioned P.J. Adebawore and Taylor Wein. Adebawore was a five-star prospect in the 2023 cycle and Wein was a late addition to the recruiting class. By all accounts, the two had huge springs. Don't sleep on Danny Okoye breaking into the two-deep either. Brent Venables called him the best athlete on the team.

Linebacker

No more Danny Stutsman at linebacker, but this is a group that's been around.

Kobie McKinzie will step into the middle linebacker role that was occupied by Stutsman. He's got great size at 6-foot-2, 236 pounds and has been learning behind Stutsman in Brent Venables' system the last three seasons. He was a four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class, and now it's McKinzie's time to shine.

Kip Lewis is one of Oklahoma's best playmakers on defense. His two interceptions returned for touchdowns last year helped Oklahoma earn its only wins in SEC play. Lewis just gets better each time he takes the field for the Sooners.

Kendal Dolby is almost 100%. Robert Spears-Jennings called him the backbone of the defense. Dolby is a playmaker who does so many things for a defense. He can cover, he can play the run, and he can blitz off the edge. If he can stay healthy throughout the 2025 season, Dolby will provide fireworks for the Sooners' defense.

The depth with Kendal Daniels, Samuel Omosigho, and Reggie Powers III might be as good as it has been for the Oklahoma Sooners during the Venables era. They'll each play a key role for the Sooners defense.

Cornerback

If there's an area on the defense that has a question mark, it's at cornerback. And that's not because there's no talent. There's a lot of talent, but there have been setbacks due to injury. But it's a group filled with four-star prospects. Brent Venables and Jim Nagy expressed faith in Jay Valai's group by not adding a player in either the winter or spring portal sessions.

Eli Bowen was one of the revelations of the 2024 season. He had some really good moments in coverage, like against Ryan Williams and Alabama. But there were also times where he struggled, like at the end of the Missouri game and in the second half against LSU. He's battled an ankle injury this offseason but should be ready to go for fall camp.

Gentry Williams has proven he can play at the collegiate level. He's sticky in coverage and physical in the run game. Now he just has to stay healthy for an entire season. Because if he does, the Sooners have a star on the outside at cornerback.

Safety

Safety is one of the more exciting positions on the team. Despite the loss of Billy Bowman, Brandon Hall still has a really talented safety room, led by Robert Spears-Jennings. Spears-Jennings is looking to build off of a strong 2024 season where he finished second on the team in total tackles, had an interception, four forced fumbles, 2 1/2 sacks, and two fumble recoveries.

Former five-star prospect Peyton Bowen is looking to have a breakout season. In 13 games last season, Bowen had 34 total tackles and two tackles for loss. He possesses incredible athleticism and playmaking ability. After sitting and learning behind Billy Bowman the last two seasons, it's now time for Bowen to take a step and become the player that had Notre Dame and Oregon also trying to land during the 2023 early signing period.

Special Teams

The Oklahoma Sooners were active in the transfer portal to fill key special teams roles. The only returning member of the team's projected first team is long snapper Ben Anderson, who earned All-SEC preseason honors.

Tate Sandell is expected to carry the placekicking duties. Arkansas transfer wide receiver Isaiah Sategna will be the Sooners primary return man.

Oklahoma is expecting to be in some close games in 2025, and the special teams units could be what provides the difference.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners 2025 depth chart projection pre-fall camp