OU Offensive Line Coach Bill Bedenbaugh Lays Out Progress, Competition in Fall Camp

Oklahoma offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh sees encouraging signs from his group midway through fall camp, but he’s not ready to hand out starting jobs just yet.

Freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje turning heads as Sooners work toward consistency before season opener

Two of the most talked-about names are true freshmen Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje, both just 18 years old and already pushing for playing time.

“You know the freaky athleticism. It’s doing things right over and over,” Bedenbaugh said. “As of right now, they’re going to play — whether they start or not, we’ll see. They’ve proved enough to have a chance to get on the field… they aren’t afraid. They don’t care who they’re blocking.”

Bedenbaugh praised their competitiveness against a strong defensive front, noting that they’ll still have growing pains, but their progress after just eight months in the program has been impressive.

Where is the Competition Heating Up at?

The Sooners are nine practices into camp, and Bedenbaugh said the battle inside is particularly competitive.

“I think we’ve got six to seven guys I think we can win with right now,” he said. “From what I’ve seen, the progress and the getting better with all the things we want to get better at, I’ve seen it. But you can’t relax. This is the most important week of camp.”

Bedenbaugh pointed to Logan Howland and Heath Ozaeta, two linemen who missed the spring, as examples of players making a jump in recent days after a slow start due to shoulder rehab.

Who are the Veteran Leaders and Transfers?

Center Troy Everett has emerged as the unquestioned leader of the offensive line.

“He’s always been a great leader… he came into camp about 314 or 315 pounds. That’s a big thing for him. He’s playing as good as he’s played since he’s been here,” Bedenbaugh said.

Transfer Derek Simmons has also adjusted quickly.

“He’s a big, physical, athletic guy, really smart, has really learned the offense,” Bedenbaugh said. “You don’t know how a guy will respond to the SEC, but I think it’s been great.”

Jacob Sexton has flashed improvement in pass protection, even with some ups and downs as the group works toward consistency.

Coaching Collaboration

Bedenbaugh had high praise for new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, even comparing his mind to a young Lincoln Riley.

“He’s smart, understands everything, has great command of the whole offense. I’ve been around a lot of good ones, he’s as good as there is,” he said.

The addition of Kevin Wilson in the offensive meeting room has also been a boost, providing a wealth of experience across multiple positions and schemes.

Areas to Improve Before Week 1

With two weeks until the opener, Bedenbaugh wants to see three key improvements:

1. Better communication — “Part of that is listening and being focused.”
2. Straining to finish plays — especially in pass protection.
3. Leverage in the run game — understanding where to position the body based on the play call and defensive look.

“We’ve got everything that we need,” Bedenbaugh said. “If we continue to get better, we’ll be fine.”