Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables has built an outstanding résumé as a defensive coordinator. Venables has won three national championships as a defensive coordinator.
That's why it was a major storyline last season when he decided to call defensive plays again, despite being the head coach. So, when discussing the most important position groups on a football team, naturally one would assume Venables would pick a defensive group. However, that's not what he went with.
When talking to News 9's Toby Rowland, Venables said the offensive line might be the most important position group on the team.
"You've got a group on the offensive line that's arguably the most important position group on a football team that takes time together from a cohesion,
chemistry and experience standpoint," Venables said. "We had three freshmen at one point starting in the SEC against some of the toughest, physical, well-coached defenses in all of college football. I think we played eight top-30 defenses last year."
Oklahoma's offensive line was forced to group up quickly last season. Venables noted that the Sooners had three freshmen starting at one point, meaning several young players gained valuable experience against some of the best defenses in the country.
That experience could pay major dividends in 2026. Instead of entering the season with an inexperienced group, Oklahoma now has players who have already faced the physicality and complexity of SEC defenses.
The development of five-star offensive tackle Michael Fasusi is particularly important, while the Sooners also return several other young contributors who should benefit from last season's experience. If Oklahoma's offensive line takes the leap Venables expects, the Sooners could have the balance necessary to make a deep College Football Playoff run.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners more experienced offensive line to take a big step
