The Oklahoma Sooners open up the 2026 season against the UTEP Miners on Friday night, and OU has officially released the first depth chart of the year for the season opener.
While fifth-year head coach Brent Venables and his coaching staff
didn't provide us with very many surprises for Week 1, there's still plenty to take away, even though the depth chart will certainly change as the season progresses.Today, we'll take a look at each position on the depth chart, to identify the key names to watch in Game 1 of the new season.
Quarterback
- John Mateer
- Whitt Newbauer OR
- Bowe Bentley
No surprises here. Mateer is the no-doubt starter for the Sooners, while Newbauer and Bentley have competed to back him up. Newbauer has reportedly been impressive in
fall camp, so look for him to truly be QB2 in 2026, though he's currently listed as a co-backup.
Running Back
- Lloyd Avant OR
- Xavier Robinson
- Tory Blaylock OR
- Jonathan Hatton Jr.
It looks like Avant and Robinson will be the primary backs for the Sooners to open the season. Avant has been healthy since he got to OU, so he gets the nod here. Robinson certainly has a chance to become the feature back if he plays well. Blaylock has been banged up this preseason, which should allow Hatton to take on a larger role early on. If he excels, it'll be tough to keep the youngster off the field.
X - Wide Receiver
- Parker Livingstone OR
- Elijah Thomas
- Jer'Michael Carter
The only WR spot with co-starters is the X position, where Livingstone and Thomas will continue to battle for snaps on the outside. Livingstone was one of the biggest portal additions OU made this offseason, while Thomas is hoping to be a homegrown wideout that gets into the mix. Carter is a reliable target who should play a lot this season.
H - Wide Receiver
- Isaiah Sategna III
- Mackenzie Alleyne OR
- Jacob Jordan
Sategna is the top wideout for the Sooners, and he's a feature part of the offense from the slot. His big-play ability and relationship with Mateer will benefit OU again this year. Alleyne and Jordan will continue to compete for the remaining slot wideout snaps, and they should both get a lot of second-half run against the Miners.
Z - Wide Receiver
- Trell Harris
- Manny Choice
Oklahoma really likes Harris, and he earned the starting job on the outside, despite missing spring ball and the early portion of fall camp. The incoming transfer was that good in the limited opportunities he got. Choice took a step forward this offseason, and he's certainly a player that will factor into the rotation at wide receiver this year.
Tight End
- Hayden Hansen OR
- Rocky Beers
- Jack Van Dorselaer
- Trynae Washington
Hansen and Beers are both veteran incoming transfers, and they'll start as co-starters at tight end. Hansen's size and blocking ability make him an attractive option, while Beers' receiving ability is a nice complement. Van Dorselaer is a younger player that OU really likes, and Washington has seemingly emerged from Oklahoma's returning TE options.
Left Tackle
- Michael Fasusi
- Peyton Joseph
- Fred Hinton
If he's healthy, there's no doubt that Fasusi is OU's starting left tackle. He's the biggest name on the offensive line, and did some really impressive things last year as a true freshman. Joseph and Hinton will be behind him, as both players transferred into the program during the offseason.
Left Guard
- Eddy Pierre-Louis
- Heath Ozaeta
- Sean Hutton
Pierre-Louis held on to his starting spot at left guard in fall camp, and he'll add a physical edge to the left side of the line. Ozaeta is a veteran who will see a lot of time at multiple positions, but perhaps not as much on the left side. It looks like Hutton has emerged from the pack to be the third-stringer, as he enters his second year at OU.
Center
- Ryan Fodje
- Caleb Nitta
- Gunnar Allen
This is the position that has gotten all of the headlines this fall. After starter Jake Maikkula got hurt, the Sooners shuffled the offensive line a bit to cover the center spot. That means Fodje, who was projected as the starter at right guard, will now begin the year at center until Maikkula's return. Nitta is the backup who will absolutely need to stay ready, and Allen is a veteran player who has spent five years at OU.
Right Guard
- Heath Ozaeta OR
- Noah Best
- Owen Hollenbeck
Because of the movement at center, it appears both Ozaeta and Best will continue to compete to be the starting right guard. Ozaeta is a good option because of his experience, but Best has been really impressive this fall, forcing his way into the OL conversation. Fodje may take over this role when Maikkula returns to play center, but for now, it's Ozaeta and Best here. Hollenbeck is a second-year player who is the third-stringer at this spot.
Right Tackle
- E'Marion Harris
- Deacon Schmitt
- Fred Hinton
Harris was penciled in as the starting right tackle when he transferred to OU, and he'll look to use his SEC experience to provide stability on the right side. Schmitt is his backup, meaning the Sooners have really liked their true freshmen linemen. Hinton will also provide depth at right tackle, as he's the third-stringer at both tackle spots.
Defensive Tackle
- David Stone
- Bishop Thomas OR
- Nigel Smith II
- James Carrington
At one of the defensive tackle spots, Stone is the obvious starter, as he's garnering plenty of hype heading into the season. His potential is sky-high, and OU needs him to be a star this year. Thomas and Smith will compete for reps behind him, and important role as the Sooners will rotate up front. Carrington is a true freshman who should also see the opportunity to get on the field as well.
Defensive Tackle
- Jayden Jackson
- Trent Wilson OR
- Nigel Smith II
At the other defensive tackle spot, Jackson will be the starter for the third straight year, and he's a huge piece of what the Sooners do up front on defense. Wilson and Smith are two homegrown players who will see a lot of playing time this year, and OU is relying upon both of them this season. They're a big part of the future at DT.
Left Defensive End
- Taylor Wein
- Wyatt Gilmore
- Kenny Ozowalu
After his breakout season in 2025, Wein is a no-doubt starter on the edge for the Sooners. He's risen from depth piece to star at defensive end, and he's another feature name for this OU defense. Gilmore has won the backup job on the left side, and he'll look to replicate Wein's career in Norman. Ozowalu is a UTSA transfer who should also see some time in 2026.
Right Defensive End
- Adepoju Adebawore OR
- Danny Okoye
- Jake Kreul
This is the only starting position on the whole defense that still looks up for grabs. Adebawore and Okoye will both play a lot of football this season, as they compete to earn more reps on the edge opposite Wein. The Sooners need one of both of them to become a game-wrecker this year. Kreul, a true freshman, was one of the gems of OU's most recent recruiting class, and he should play a lot against UTEP and could break into the mix later in the year.
WILL Linebacker
- Kip Lewis
- James Nesta
No questions at the weakside linebacker spot. Lewis is the longest-tenured Sooner, and he's been with Venables since the beginning. Lewis has started since midway through the 2023 season, and his return for one last ride is huge for OU. Nesta has earned the backup role, and he'll certainly play a lot for Oklahoma this season.
MIKE Linebacker
- Owen Heinecke
- Cole Sullivan
- Dane Bathurst
At middle linebacker, Heinecke's eligibility victory in court this spring gives OU a bona fide field general at the second level. He's been at Oklahoma for five years, and has risen from special-teamer to star in Norman. Sullivan will obviously play a ton at multiple positions, but will see some time in the middle. Bathurst has emerged from the rest of the pack to earn the third-team spot as a true freshman
SAM Linebacker
- Cole Sullivan
- James Nesta
Venables and the Sooners don't normally play a strongside linebacker, instead opting for the Cheetah position, which is a hybrid linebacker and defensive back. However, when the Sooners want to go a little bigger and play three true linebackers at the same time instead of a true Cheetah, it'll be Sullivan who takes the field first. The incoming transfer has been impressive since he got to OU. Nesta is also in the mix, as he'll earn his first big-time snaps as a Sooner this season.
Cheetah
- Reggie Powers III
- Jeremiah Newcombe OR
- Lebron Bauer
Powers will be OU's starting Cheetah this season, as he was the backup in this spot a season ago. Though it looks like a lot of different players will see time at Cheetah, it's Powers who should get the lion's share of the snaps, at least early on. Newcombe is another option here, as is Bauer, a true freshman who didn't get to Norman until the summer. When Venables wants to play a little more speed and coverage at Cheetah with five true defensive backs, look for these three guys to see the field.
Left Cornerback
- Courtland Guillory
- Trystan Haynes OR
- Dakoda Fields
After starting as a true freshman in 2025, Guillory is back for his second year as one of the starting cornerbacks in Norman. He flashed immense potential and should only get better as his career progresses. It'll be Haynes and Fields behind him, as the Sooners will likely rotate cornerbacks a lot this season. Both guys will need to be ready early and often
Right Cornerback
- Eli Bowen
- Jacobe Johnson OR
- Dakoda Fields
Bowen is healthy to open the season this go-around, and he's been an excellent CB for the Sooners ever since he got to campus. Johnson is a veteran who will continue to play a lot, and his athleticism is a big plus for Oklahoma. Fields could also play on this side as well, as it looks like the Sooners have five cornerbacks they feel good about at this time.
Strong Safety
- Peyton Bowen
- Omarion Robinson OR
- Markel Ford
Bowen is another multi-year starter for the OU defense, and he's the alpha dog of the Sooner secondary in 2026. His leadership and ability to do just about everything are huge for Venables' defense. Robinson will play a lot this fall in his second year as a Sooner, and Ford has been impressive as a true freshman.
Free Safety
- Michael Boganowski
- Omarion Robinson OR
- Niko Jandreau
- Reed DeQuasie
Boganowski steps into the other starting safety spot, and the Sooners like his physicality in the defensive backfield. Robinson is the clear No. 3 safety, and he'll be on the field a lot this year. Jandreau is a true freshman that has played well this fall, and DeQuasie gives OU a veteran depth option at safety, helping to anchor a room that is very young overall.
Kicker
- Tate Sandell
- Liam Evans OR
- Trace Rudd
No surprises at this spot. Sandell was one of the nation's best kickers last year, and he's back to help power OU's special teams. Evans and Rudd will compete to be his backup, a battle that may last into next season to determine the new starter.
Punter
- Grayson Miller
- Jacob Ulrich
Punter was one of the only true position battles in fall camp, and it looks like Miller has defended his starting spot to begin the year. Ulrich is also a really solid punter option, and last year showed us that this battle can flip midseason if needed.
Long Snapper
- Ben Anderson
- Seth Freeman
Anderson is back for one last year as OU's starting long snapper, and he's one of the nation's best. Freeman is waiting in the wings behind him, and he'll be ready to take over next season.
Holder
- Jacob Ulrich
- Grayson Miller
Ulrich will remain Oklahoma's holder on extra points and field goals, as he was a key member of a unit that executed very well in 2025. Miller is the second option at this spot, which is just the inverse of the punter depth chart.
Kickoff Specialist
- Tate Sandell
- Trace Rudd OR
- Liam Evans
Sandell will handle the kickoff duties again for the Sooners, with Rudd and Evans again competing behind him. It looks like Oklahoma has identified its top two backup kickers on the roster if something were to happen to Sandell this season.
Kick Returner
- Lloyd Avant
- Jonathan Hatton Jr.
After returning just two total kickoffs last season, the Sooners will dig into their running back room for the kick returner slots. Avant is the headliner, as he has experience in the role, and Hatton has emerged as the player who will join him on the back line.
Punt Returner
- Isaiah Sategna III
- Jacob Jordan
- Trell Harris
Sategna will again be returning punts for the Sooners in 2026, and he was a revelation in this spot a year ago. The Sooners will use a couple other members of the wide receiver room as the backup options behind Sategna, as Jordan and Harris would be the next men up if they are needed.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Takeaways from Oklahoma's official depth chart release for Week 1
