The Oklahoma Sooners have released their first depth chart of the 2025 season, and if fans were expecting a lineup full of obvious choices and steady hands, they may have been caught off guard. Brent Venables’ staff delivered a chart that is part roadmap, part question mark, and part motivational tool. With Illinois State looming in the opener and Michigan arriving in Norman for Week 2, the Sooners are signaling that this is still very much a roster under construction — one filled with competition, potential, and some eyebrow-raising decisions.
Quarterback: As Expected, But With Pressure
No shock here: John Mateer, the transfer from Washington State, is QB1. Oklahoma didn’t bring him in to sit, and he’s looked the part throughout fall camp. The Sooners are banking on Mateer’s experience in a Power Five system to help smooth their entry into a brutal SEC schedule. Behind him, depth remains a concern, but the staff clearly sees Mateer as a steady hand.
The pressure, however, is enormous. With so many “ORs” elsewhere on the depth chart, Mateer is one of the few unquestioned starters. That means Venables and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle are handing him the keys and expecting results immediately.
Running Back: A Plot Twist with Barnes and Blaylock
Perhaps the biggest surprise came in the backfield. Everyone expected Cal transfer Jaydn Ott, one of the biggest portal additions in the country, to step right into the lead role. Instead, it’s senior Jovantae Barnes listed as RB1, with true freshman Tory Blaylock slotted as RB2. Ott, still shaking off a shoulder injury, sits at RB3.
This isn’t a demotion as much as it is a reminder that fall camp performance matters, and Barnes delivered. Blaylock, meanwhile, has been a breakout story — quick, decisive, and ready to contribute early. For Ott, it’s a test of patience and health. By midseason, he may still be the feature back, but for Week 1, this backfield belongs to Barnes.
Tight End: The Jaren Kanak Experiment
Here’s the shocker: Jaren Kanak, who spent his entire career at linebacker, is the starting tight end. Yes, you read that right. A senior who has never caught a collegiate pass will line up as TE1. Behind him are transfers Will Huggins and Carson Kent.
On one hand, this speaks to Kanak’s athleticism and the staff’s creativity. On the other, it highlights how unsettled this position has been. Injuries to Kaden Helms and inexperience across the group forced the Sooners to think outside the box. If Kanak becomes even a serviceable option, this gamble could pay off. But it’s undeniably a risk heading into a season where the margin for error will be thin.
Offensive Line: “ORs” Everywhere
Bill Bedenbaugh’s group is usually one of Oklahoma’s strengths, but this year’s depth chart reveals just how fluid things are. Outside of right guard — where veteran Febechi Nwaiwu stands alone — every other spot lists co-starters.
Freshman five-star Michael Fasusi is technically the starter at left tackle, but he’s joined by Jacob Sexton and Stanford transfer Luke Baklenko in an ongoing competition. Similar battles exist at center, left guard, and right tackle. The message is clear: the staff isn’t ready to commit.
This could be concerning heading into a matchup against Michigan’s ferocious defensive line in Week 2, but it also reflects Bedenbaugh’s philosophy. He pushes competition as long as possible, and with the talent he’s accumulated, OU’s line may stabilize quickly. Still, fans would have liked more certainty up front after last year’s inconsistencies.
Wide Receivers: Clarity at the Top
At receiver, the picture is clearer: Keontez Lewis (X), Isaiah Sategna (H), and Purdue transfer Deion Burks (Z) will lead the way. This group blends size, speed, and versatility, and finally gives Mateer a reliable set of targets.
Depth, however, is still in flux. Elijah Thomas, a name many circled as a breakout candidate, is buried as WR3 at one spot. Ivan Carreon and others will rotate, but the top three appear set — and that’s a comfort in a depth chart filled with ambiguity elsewhere.
Defensive Line: Stability Mixed with Rotation
On defense, R Mason Thomas is locked in at right defensive end, and Peyton Bowen is a firm starter at strong safety. Beyond that? More “ORs.”
At defensive tackle, the Sooners will rotate four players — Jayden Jackson, Gracen Halton, David Stone, and Damonic Williams. This is by design. Venables knows the SEC demands depth up front, and OU finally has the bodies to make it happen. At defensive end opposite Thomas, Marvin Jones Jr. is penciled in, but Taylor Wein will push for snaps.
This isn’t uncertainty so much as abundance. For once, Oklahoma can afford to rotate talent along the defensive line, and that should pay dividends late in games.
Linebackers: Replacing Stutsman by Committee
As expected, the linebacker spots are unsettled. Kip Lewis, Kobie McKinzie, and Sammy Omosigho are the names to know, but every spot has an “OR.” This is the reality of life after Danny Stutsman.
The staff clearly trusts Lewis to lead the group, but depth is thin after offseason transfers. Owen Heinecke’s rise onto the depth chart is encouraging, as is the flexibility provided by Oklahoma State transfer Kendal Daniels at cheetah. Still, this room feels one injury away from panic.
Secondary: Injuries Create More Questions
The defensive backfield has talent, but also injuries. Eli Bowen, the breakout freshman corner from last year, is absent after missing all of camp. That leaves Gentry Williams, finally healthy, to start at one corner spot, while the other will go to either true freshman Courtland Guillory or Jacobe Johnson. It’s a huge vote of confidence in Guillory, but also a reminder of how quickly depth charts can be reshaped by injuries.
At safety, Peyton Bowen is locked in, but Robert Spears-Jennings surprisingly has an “OR” with Michael Boganowski. This feels less like doubt in Spears-Jennings and more like a nod to Boganowski’s rapid development. If anything, OU fans should be encouraged that a true sophomore is already pushing one of the most established players on the roster.
Special Teams: Quiet but Steady
Special teams brought some stability. UTSA transfer Tate Sandell won the kicking job after a strong camp, and Kennesaw State transfer Jacob Ulrich will handle punting. Isaiah Sategna will double as kick and punt returner, giving the Sooners a proven weapon in the return game.
Big Picture: A Depth Chart of Intentional Uncertainty
So what should we make of all this? On paper, the sheer number of “ORs” looks like chaos. But this is Venables’ style. He believes in competition lasting well into the season. For younger players, the message is that jobs are still there for the taking. For veterans, it’s a reminder that production, not seniority, decides playing time.
At the same time, this depth chart exposes real questions. Is the offensive line ready for SEC speed and power? Can the linebackers replace Stutsman without a drop-off? And will the injuries in the secondary derail early momentum?
The opener against Illinois State won’t answer much. But in just over a week, Michigan comes to town, and that game will reveal whether these “ORs” represent strength in depth — or weakness in decision-making.
For now, Oklahoma fans should take this depth chart for what it is: a snapshot of a team still shaping its identity. Venables has the talent. Whether he can mold it into a consistent, championship-caliber lineup is the question that will define the Sooners’ 2025 season.
Matt Hofeld is a college football analyst and contributor covering the SEC. Follow him for more Oklahoma and conference-wide analysis throughout the 2025 season.
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