Oklahoma Sooners Football Projected Depth Chart After Fall Camp Ahead of Week 1 vs. UTEP

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Fall camp is over and the first official depth chart is here ahead of the UTEP opener. Nothing is fully set in stone, but this is the clearest look yet at how Oklahoma is likely to line up for Week 1. Some jobs are locked. Others are still being sorted out by health and performance.

Quarterback

QB1: John Mateer (5th)

QB2: Whitt Newbauer (JR)

Mateer is the clear starter and the entire offense runs through him. He had a strong offseason, put on muscle, and is fully healthy after last year’s thumb issues. Staying healthy is the only real concern. Newbauer sits behind him and has the edge for the QB2 job over freshman Bowe Bentley because of his experience at Mercer. Mateer does not need to be perfect, but he does need to stay upright and play with the confidence he showed early last season.

Running Back

RB1: Lloyd Avant (JR)

RB2: Xavier Robinson (JR)

Avant is listed first and should get the Week 1 start. New running backs coach Deland McCullough has said Avant earned that edge while Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock missed time in camp with injuries. Avant is not necessarily the most talented back on the roster long-term, but he is the most available right now. Expect Robinson to work his way into a larger role as the season goes on once he is fully up to speed. The backfield should eventually become more of a committee, but availability is winning the first week.

Wide Receiver

WR1: Isaiah Sategna III (5th), Mackenzie Alleyne (JR)

WR2: Trell Harris (5th), Elijah Thomas (SO)

WR3: Parker Livingstone (JR), Jer’Michael Carter (SR)

Sategna is the clear WR1 after a First-Team All-SEC season and remains the top target. Harris and Livingstone give the Sooners a real three-headed group at the top. Harris brings proven production and physicality. Livingstone has the size and speed to stretch the field. That trio should create matchup problems if Mateer has time. The drop-off after them is noticeable. Alleyne, Thomas, and Carter have less experience, so depth will be tested if anyone at the top misses time.

Tight End

TE1: Hayden Hansen (5th)

TE2: Rocky Beers (5th)

TE3: Jack Van Dorselaer (SO)

This room is completely new. Hansen is the top option and should see the most snaps as a traditional in-line tight end with SEC experience. Beers adds another big body and red-zone presence. Van Dorselaer is the third piece. Jason Witten is coaching the group for the first time, and all three are expected to be used in different ways. Hansen is the safest bet for consistent playing time early while the others carve out roles.

Offensive Line

LT: Michael Fasusi (SO), Peyton Joseph (SO)

LG: Eddy Pierre-Louis (SO), Daniel Akinkunmi (JR)

C: Ryan Fodje (SO), Caleb Nitta (SR)

RG: Heath Ozaeta (SR), Noah Best (FR)

RT: E’Marion Harris (SR), Fred Hinton (JR)

This is still the biggest question mark on the roster. Fasusi starts at left tackle and has the highest ceiling of anyone in the group. Pierre-Louis is next to him at left guard and plays with a physical edge. The center spot is in flux because Jake Maikkula is working back from an MCL injury suffered in camp. Fodje is listed first for now with Nitta also working there. Ozaeta and E’Marion Harris round out the projected right side. The left side looks stronger on paper. Continuity and health up front will go a long way toward deciding how much the offense can improve.

Defensive Line

DE: Taylor Wein (SR), Kenny Ozowalu (JR)

DT: David Stone (JR), Bishop Thomas (5th)

DT: Jayden Jackson (JR), Trent Wilson (SO)

DE: Adepoju Adebawore (SR), Danny Okoye (JR)

This is Oklahoma’s best position group. Wein and Adebawore are the ends, with Stone and Jackson inside. Stone carries top-10 draft buzz and can wreck both the run and the pass. Wein is a proven producer. Adebawore has the length and athleticism to take a jump. Jackson is still ascending. The rotation behind them has enough bodies to keep the starters fresh. If this group plays up to its talent, the entire defense benefits.

Linebackers

MIKE: Owen Heinecke (5th), Cole Sullivan (JR)

SAM: Kip Lewis (5th), James Nesta (SO)

Cheetah: Cole Sullivan (JR), Reggie Powers III (JR)

Heinecke is back at Mike and will handle the green-dot communication again. Lewis is at Sam and has All-American potential if he builds on last year. Sullivan is listed at the Cheetah spot and gives the staff flexibility after a strong year at Michigan. He can also play Mike if needed. Powers and Nesta provide depth. This group has experience, physicality, and multiple players who can run and hit.

Safeties

Strong Safety: Peyton Bowen (SR), Jeremiah Newcombe (JR)

Free Safety: Michael Boganowski (JR), Omarion Robinson (SO)

Bowen starts at strong safety and should be one of the leaders of the secondary. He is a proven playmaker. Boganowski is at free safety and showed enough last year to earn the job. Newcombe and Robinson are next up. The top of the group is solid. Consistency from the second unit will matter over a long season.

Cornerbacks

Left Corner: Courtland Guillory (SO), Jacobe Johnson (SR)

Right Corner: Eli Bowen (JR), Trystan Haynes (SO)

Guillory is the left corner and has real star potential after an outstanding freshman season. Eli Bowen is on the right side and brings playmaking ability with All-SEC upside. Johnson and Haynes are the primary backups. The top two are good enough to give the defense a chance to play aggressively. Depth behind them will be tested if injuries hit.

Overall

The defense looks loaded from front to back. The skill positions on offense have talent. The offensive line and the early running back situation are the main variables heading into Week 1. Mateer being healthy is the most important single factor on the roster. If the line holds up and the run game becomes functional, Oklahoma has the pieces to be dangerous. If those areas lag, the ceiling gets lower in a hurry.

UTEP is the first test. The depth chart will shift as health improves and players earn more work. For now, this is the group Oklahoma is rolling with out of camp.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos