CFB Analyst names 'breakout player' at Oklahoma ahead of 2026 season
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The Oklahoma Sooners are less than a week away from beginning their pursuit of another national championship. The Sooners last won a title in 2000, and if they hope to do that this season, they need to get help from the offense.
The Sooners ranked No. 92 in total offense last year. They struggled to establish a run game and protect quarterback John Mateer. That was largely due to starting three freshmen offensive linemen. One of those is former five-star Michael Fasusi, who started at left tackle. He's expected to be the starter again this season.
College football analyst Josh Pate is very high on Fasusi, calling him his pick for breakout player for the Sooners.
"The breakout player is Michael Fasusi," Pate said on 'Josh Pate's College Football Show.' "He was pressed into action last year. Had to start at tackle as a true freshman. You don't often talk about offensive linemen as breakout players, but I think he qualifies. He's a guy with Sunday traits. He's had them since he arrived on campus."
What makes Pate's prediction especially interesting is that Fasusi isn't exactly an unknown commodity. Most freshmen offensive linemen aren't asked to become immediate starters, especially at a program competing in the SEC. Fasusi did exactly that.
He appeared in 11 games and made 10 starts as a true freshman, giving Oklahoma valuable experience at one of the most important positions on the roster. Now, instead of simply trying to survive his first season, Fasusi enters Year 2 with a full season of SEC football under his belt.
That's a significant difference for a player with the physical tools that made him a five-star prospect. That's why Fasusi's development could be more important than simply becoming a breakout player. If Pate is right about his "Sunday traits," Fasusi could become one of the foundational pieces of an Oklahoma offense that needs to go from a liability to a strength.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: CFB Analyst names 'breakout player' at Oklahoma ahead of 2026 season
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