When the Oklahoma Sooners line up to play UTEP on Friday night, they'll have a new starting center. Jake Maikkula is recovering from a lower body injury and is still likely a couple of weeks away from being available. That's thrust Ryan Fodje into the forefront as Oklahoma prepares for the season opener.
Fodje was named the starter for the Oklahoma Sooners when they host UTEP on Friday.
Fodje has played all over the offensive line, from right tackle and guard last season to filling in at left tackle during training camp. Now it looks like he could be the Sooners' starting center for Week 1. And Fodje's doing all the right things.
"He's been really good," OU quarterback John Mateer said after practice on Sunday. "He's doing a great job, and props
to him for learning so many different positions. His versatility is huge for himself and for his team... It's a hard position to learn, but he's doing a great job."
Center is a difficult position to learn because you have to know the offense, know what the defense is doing along the front, set protections, and communicate with the rest of the line. Fodje provides excellent upside at the position. He's a big, physical player with great athleticism. Even though he's never played the position in a game, he's proving up to the task of making the transition to center, putting in the extra work to make sure he's ready for UTEP.
Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle likes what he's seen from Fodje since arriving on campus in January of 2025, but even more so as he's made the transition over to center in training camp.
"Somebody who's been in the room understands the unit of offensive line, understands the calls and the communication that goes into it, and so he's been doing a great job out at practice, out there being vocal, leading. He's been doing a great job, so I'm excited to watch Big Ryan play some ball."
Fodje's versatility has been a huge asset for the Sooners, and he's putting in the work to be able to start for Oklahoma at all three spots along the offensive line.
"It's been good so far," Fodje said via The Oklahoman. "Working with Coach (Bedenbaugh), Jake (Maikkula), Caleb (Nitta), Noah (Best), all those guys, they're amazing. I said earlier in fall camp that I could take my glove off and play center, so that's what I've been doing right now, but it's been good...I've been after practice every day, snapping with John (Mateer), under center, shotgun, everything."
Oklahoma may not have Maikkula back for the Week 2 trip to Ann Arbor, so it's crucial for the Sooners to have their answer at center. Though UTEP and Michigan provide very different challenges and playing in the Big House vs. playing at home will be different environments as well, if the offense can play well with Fodje at center, look efficient, and not have any communication issues, then the Oklahoma coaching staff will have confidence in the former four-star and top 10 offensive tackle in the 2025 recruiting class starting at center for their top 25 Week 2 road trip.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma QB John Mateer says Ryan Fodje 'doing a great job' at center
