Confident, promising, understanding — the OU offensive line has been building for a better year in 2025.
In 2024, offensive lineman coach Bill Bedenbaugh’s unit was full of struggles, particularly with injuries on its way to a 6-7 season with senior Jacob Sexton, redshirt senior Jake Taylor, redshirt senior Troy Everett and others sidelined for periods of the season. However, in 2025, the line works to shift its momentum with additions like freshman Michael Fasusi, freshman Ryan Fodje and redshirt senior Derek Simmons.
Specifically, Fasusi and Fodje bring promise. Fasusi, a consensus five-star and top-25 prospect, was ranked as the nation’s No. 2 offensive tackle out of high school, according to ESPN and Rivals, and Fodje, a four-star recruit, was rated as the No. 10 offensive tackle prospect by On3 and selected to the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl.
Despite their youth, Bedenbaugh, who has developed 11 NFL Draft picks since 2013, feels confident Fasusi and Fodje are bringing a different level of confidence than the Sooners have ever had at offensive line.
“We’ve had good players here, really good guys that are pros. I haven’t had anybody like that at that age,” Bedenbaugh said. “Just overall, they aren’t afraid. They don’t care who they’re blocking. Whether Fasusi gets his (butt) kicked by R Mason (Thomas) or not, he ain’t scared. He’s going out there to win. Ryan Fodje is the same exact way. He’s going to line up again. He’s going to have confidence, and he’s going to learn from that.”
As the two have shown promise as a duo, they have grown to be strong teammates and friends, according to Fasusi.
“It’s good doing all this hard work, and it’s good to laugh along with your teammates,” Fasusi said. “(Fodje) brings a lot of that to the table — the toughness, the strength, the hands, the laughter, everything. …
“It’s really been a brotherhood since the day we came in.”
But what about the two has impressed Bedenbaugh most?
“It’s really … just consistency,” Bedenbaugh said. “It’s not the flashy things that they do. It’s not freaky athleticism. It’s doing things right over and over.”
Simmons, on the other hand, arrives with experience but also goes through the process of understanding schemes and getting up to speed, as he has not faced Southeastern Conference competition before. At Western Carolina University, he started all 10 games in 2024, registered 612 offensive snaps and allowed zero quarterback sacks in 417 pass-blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, but he has not played a snap of SEC football.
Even Bedenbaugh remains uncertain about how his game will translate, but the offensive line coach has been impressed with his knowledge of the offense in fall camp and his physical characteristics.
“You don’t know how he’s going to respond to (the SEC), but I think it’s been great,” Bedenbaugh said. “He’s a big, physical, athletic guy and a really smart guy. He has really learned the offense, so he’s got all the traits and tools.”
As the newcomers have adjusted to the offense, Everett and redshirt junior Febechi Nwaiwu, who started all 13 games last year, have stepped up as leaders in mentality and performance.
“(Everett’s) always been a great leader. Man loves to play football. He is the unquestioned leader of the offensive line,” Bedenbaugh said. “Febechi is really stepping up. He’s playing as good as he’s played since he’s been here.”
However, while Everett and Nwaiwu have stepped up, sophomore Eddy Pierre-Louis, despite being a returner, has had to work on controlling his power.
“He’s still got to play with better pad level, better eyes, better hands, but the one thing about Eddy that you love about him (is) he plays hard. He loves it,” Bedenbaugh said. “He’s physical. … Sometimes, he plays out of control. You got to have controlled aggression. IEverybody just says, “Fire off the ball.” Well, I can get anybody to run off the ball, but they’re going to miss people because things are going right and left and up the field and twists and all that. So you got to play under control too. With your eyes up, bow your neck, hands tight, don’t lead with your head — those are the things.”
Even with Pierre-Louis, a player who has impressed with his effort and passion, Bedenbaugh stays critical and intense. According to Fasusi, this is the attitude the team needs.
“It’s what you need to get better, so that’s why I’m here,” Fasusi said. “Man, I love the intensity. I love the speed of the game. Sometimes, I (need to) get better (with) working on my hands, on my feet. That intensity, it makes me hungry.”
Bedenbaugh, though, has always had an unsatisfied mindset – even in 2018 when the team won the Joe Moore award, which is given to the most outstanding offensive line in college football.
“We won the Joe Moore award, and I thought we sucked,” Bedenbaugh said. “That’s how it is. As a coach, you’re never satisfied.”
According to Bedenbaugh, this mindset is vital.
“(You) got to continue to get better and never get satisfied with where you’re at,” Bedenbaugh said. “Even if you have a good play, a good day, it’s on to the next.”