Oklahoma Sooners name starting center, release depth chart for UTEP

The Oklahoma Sooners released their first official depth chart for the start of the 2026 college football season. The Sooners will open the season Friday at 7 p.m. against the UTEP Miners, and now we can see what the starting lineup will look like.

The Sooners entered training camp with several position battles underway, and some of those will continue into the season. But it looks like the Sooners have figured out arguably the most important one, the offensive line.

Though the projected starter at center, Jake Maikkula, won’t be available for the start of the season, it looks like Oklahoma’s found their guy, at least for this week. Ryan Fodje, a former four-star and top 10 offensive tackle in the 2025 recruiting class, will get the start against UTEP.

Fodje started six games for the Sooners as a true freshman, helping Oklahoma at both guard and center last season. Coming into training camp, he looked to be Oklahoma’s starting right guard, but flipped to left tackle to fill in for Michael Fasusi, who was limited with an injury. While Fodje was at left tackle, true freshman Noah Best stepped in at right guard and received rave reviews.

Best is locked in as an “or” starter with veteran guard Heath Ozaeta. But the rest of the offensive line is set with Fasusi at left tackle, Eddy Pierre-Louis at left guard, Fodje at center, and E’Marion Harris at right tackle. It’s a veteran group that will set the tone for the Oklahoma Sooners’ offense in 2026.

Coming into training camp, the Oklahoma Sooners seemed to have their wide receiver starting lineup set with Trell Harris, Isaiah Sategna, and Parker Livingstone. But Elijah Thomas, a four-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, has put himself in a position to earn significant snaps and even start for the Sooners this season.

Thomas is an electric playmaker on the outside, capable of creating big plays and taking it to the house for touchdowns every time he touches the ball.

After earning praise from Brent Venables last season as a special teams contributor, Thomas will now have an opportunity to make an impact this season.

Adepoju Adebawore and Danny Okoye will both have a huge role for the Oklahoma Sooners’ defense this season. Both players are ready to have breakout performances, taking over in the defensive end rotation for the departed R Mason Thomas and Marvin Jones, Jr.

Whether it’s Adebawore or Okoye that starts isn’t all that consequential. The Sooners will play four defensive ends to keep their guys fresh. Both Adebawore and Okoye bring something to the table that will help the Sooners’ defense.

At least in the starting lineup, we’re getting a rotation of Xavier Robinson and Lloyd Avant, who were listed as co-starters on the official depth chart.

Avant earned praise this offseason for his consistency and ability to create plays. Robinson has had big games for the Sooners in his previous two seasons but has struggled to stay healthy. The two will split carries, but Avant will likely get a majority of the third-down work, with Robinson getting most of the short-yardage and goal-line work in the Sooners’ offense.

Also look for true freshman Jonathan Hatton to be mixed in with the first-team offense as the team looks to utilize his size and speed. When he’s 100%, Tory Blaylock will be a factor as well, but the team doesn’t need to push him with Avant and Robinson at the top of the depth chart.

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