Oklahoma Sooners post-fall camp depth chart projection

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The 2026 college football season is now just nine days away, and the Oklahoma Sooners are set to embark on what could be a magical season. Coming off a 10-2 year and a playoff appearance, the Sooners have the talent and the leadership to go make another run this season.

There were few questions about the roster entering fall camp, and few still remain as Oklahoma readies for its Week 1 matchup with the UTEP Miners. The roster that head coach Brent Venables and general manager Jim Nagy have constructed has the talent to make a lot of noise this season.

Certainly, Oklahoma has something to prove with the way 2025 ended in their playoff loss to Alabama. If Oklahoma can avoid some of the mistakes that cost them, as it did against Texas, Ole Miss, and the Crimson Tide, and if it can find a running game to provide some balance to the offense, OU will be in good shape.

As we get ready for the start of the 2026 season, here's our final depth chart projection ahead of Week 1.

Quarterback

• John Mateer
• Whitt Newbauer
• Bowe Bentley

John Mateer is the starter. Whitt Newbauer will be the backup. He looked good in spring ball and has experience playing in SEC environments dating back to his time at Mercer. And before you scoff at his FCS origins, let's not forget where Trinidad Chambliss came from.

Don't worry about Bowe Bentley. He's got the tools and the upside to be great long term but with Newbauer's experience and time in the offense, Oklahoma will go with the veteran hand behind Mateer.

Running Back

• Xavier Robinson
• Lloyd Avant
• Jonathan Hatton

When Xavier Robinson is healthy, he's incredibly productive, and this should be the best offensive line he's had the opportunity to work with while at Oklahoma. Lloyd Avant has been a steady piece to the running back rotation since arriving from Colorado State, receiving rave reviews from running backs coach Deland McCullough.

Jonathan Hatton's talent is undeniable, and he'll get opportunities to show it off, especially in short yardage and in the red zone.

DeZephen Walker and Andy Bass will also see some opportunities, especially in games against UTEP and New Mexico. Tory Blaylock hasn't had much time on the field this fall as he deals with a lower body injury. The coaching staff will likely not feel the need to rush him back on the field if the running back room is producing. But when Blaylock is back, he'll provide juice to the Sooners' offense.

Wide Receiver

• X: Elijah Thomas or Parker Livingstone, Manny Choice
• Slot: Isaiah Sategna, Jashiear Rogers, Jacob Jordan
• Z: Trell Harris, Mackenzie Alleyne, JerMichael Carter

Trell Harris has answered any injury concerns he might have with a productive fall camp. Isaiah Sategna is locked in as Mateer's top target. Then comes the battle at the other wide receiver spot in three-wide receiver sets. Livingstone and Thomas have both made a lot of plays in fall camp, and both will have an opportunity to contribute this season. Oklahoma needs them, along with Choice, Alleyne, and Rogers, to prove ready to take the wide receiver reins when Harris and Sategna are gone.

Tight End

• Hayden Hansen
• Rocky Beers
• Jack VanDorsalaer

The tight end group received a huge makeover this offseason, and the Sooners' offense will benefit tremendously. Hansen likely gets the start due to his ability as a run blocker, but all three of those guys, along with Trynae Washington, will see the field as the Sooners attempt to establish the running game.

Offensive Line

• LT: Michael Fasusi, Ryan Fodje
• LG: Eddy Pierre-Louis, Peyton Joseph
• C: Ryan Fodje, Caleb Nitta
• RG: Noah Best, Heath Ozaeta
• RT: E'Marion Harris, Ryan Fodje

This could be Oklahoma's best offensive line of the Brent Venables era. It's a star-studded group led by left tackle Michael Fasusi. But across the board, there's a lot more experience and physicality than we've seen in years past. The biggest question is at center, where it appears former top 10 offensive tackle Ryan Fodje is leading the way to start in Maikkula's absence.

True freshman Noah Best has been arguably the biggest surprise of fall camp. He earned opportunities to run with the first team when Fodje flipped to left tackle to take snaps for the absent Fasusi, but it sounds like Best has solidified himself as one of Oklahoma's best five offensive linemen.

Defensive Line

• DE: Taylor Wein, Wyatt Gilmore, Kenny Ozowalu
• NT: Jayden Jackson, Trent Wilson, Bishop Thomas
• DT: David Stone, Nigel Smith, James Carrington
• DE: Danny Okoye or Adepoju Adebawore, Jake Kreul

David Stone, Jayden Jackson, and Taylor Wein lead the way for an Oklahoma Sooners defensive line that is replacing four key cogs from the two-deep from 2025. But all signs point to Danny Okoye and Adepoju Adebawore having breakout seasons for the Sooners opposite Taylor Wein. Then there's Wyatt Gilmore, who has received rave reviews from Wein this offseason.

On the inside, Wilson and Smith feel like the next two off the bench for the Sooners, with true freshman Tank Carrington and transfer Bishop Thomas getting in the mix as well. There may not be definitive answers behind Stone and Jackson, but there are certainly options with upside.

Linebacker

• MIKE: Owen Heinecke, James Nesta or Marcus James
• WILL: Kip Lewis, Cole Sullivan
• Cheetah: Reggie Powers III, Cole Sullivan, Jeremiah Newcombe

Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke make up one of the best linebacker duos in college football. Cole Sullivan might be the best third linebacker in the nation. Reggie Powers is going to be a star at cheetah for the Sooners after playing a rotational role last year.

Beyond that, James Nesta, Marcus James, and Jeremiah Newcombe feel like the other backers or cheetah players to get opportunities behind the top four guys.

Cornerback

• Eli Bowen, Jacobe Johnson
• Courtland Guillory, Trystan Haynes

Eli Bowen and Courtland Guillory are one of the best cornerback duos in the nation. They're flying under the radar after a standout 2025 season, and that makes them even more dangerous ahead of 2026.

Safety

• Peyton Bowen, Omarion Robinson
• Michael Boganowski, Markel Ford

Led by Peyton Bowen, the Oklahoma Sooners' safety group is full of playmakers. Michael Boganowski will get the first crack to start alongside Bowen, but don't sleep on Omarion Robinson, who has had a really strong camp. If needed, Reggie Powers could slide back from his cheetah spot to help out at safety as well.

Kicker

• Tate Sandell
• Liam Evans

There's a lot of leg in the kicker room this season with Lou Groza award winner and former Kohl's Kicking five-star Liam Evans.

Punter

• Grayson Miller OR Jacob Ulrich

This feels like a position battle that will carry into the season. Miller is the incumbent, but Brent Venables has praised Ulrich for his work this fall as well. The punter can be a weapon for Oklahoma, but they have to avoid any miscues for the Sooners to have the kind of success they expect to have.

Kick Returner

• Lloyd Avant
• Jashiear Rogers

Lloyd Avant is a multipurpose back who will see time in a third-down role for the Sooners and ply his craft as a kickoff returner. The Sooners only returned two kicks last season. Avant has a chance to be a weapon for OU this year.

Punt Returner

• Isaiah Sategna
• Jashiear Rogers

Isaiah Sategna is as dynamic a punt returner as he is at wide receiver. We'll see whether the Sooners want to continue to put their All-SEC player in that position or go with the speedy Rogers.

Long Snapper

• Ben Anderson
• Seth Freeman

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

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