Offensive Line

[John Otterstedt]

Offensive Line Recruits	Stars	Rating	Position
2023​	Eddy Pierre-Louis	4​	6​	Backup RG
2023​	Daniel Akinkunmi	4​	5.7​	None
2023​	Josh Aisosa	3​	5.5​	3rd C
2023​	Eugene Brooks	4​	5.9​	3rd RG
2023​	Isaiah Autry	3​	5.7​	3rd LT
2022​	Logan Howland	4​	5.8​	Backup LT
2022​	Cayden Green	4​	6​
2022​	Heath Ozaeta	3​	5.6​	Starting LG

Since becoming head coach (Dec 2021) and admitting that he needs to focus on the trenches for the SEC, here are the OL recruits BV has brought in; 8 total with 1 already leaving and another nowhere on the depth chart.
Only one is a listed starter, and the rest are 2nd and 3rd team guys.

There are 4 recruits listed on this cycle which won't contribute next year. The guys above may or may not be starting material next year. We're going to be stuck digging for gold in the transfer portal. I just don't see this getting better next year. Tell me I'm wrong.

 

[coeSooner81]

2023 class should be playing in front of the 22 class. Hopefully we will get to see them play against Maine.

 

[ShamWowed]

I hope our new offensive coordinator takes a critical look at Bedenbaugh. Injuries aside, we have not been great on the oline in quite some time.

 

[John Otterstedt]

Of our recruits the last two years, only a 3-star is starting on our line right now. As we all know, Cayden jumped ship, and Eddie Pierre-Louis has only made it to backup guard. Eugene Brooks can't even crack the two-deep?

 

[Raysor]

Offensive Line Recruits	Stars	Rating	Position
2023​	Eddy Pierre-Louis	4​	6​	Backup RG
2023​	Daniel Akinkunmi	4​	5.7​	None
2023​	Josh Aisosa	3​	5.5​	3rd C
2023​	Eugene Brooks	4​	5.9​	3rd RG
2023​	Isaiah Autry	3​	5.7​	3rd LT
2022​	Logan Howland	4​	5.8​	Backup LT
2022​	Cayden Green	4​	6​
2022​	Heath Ozaeta	3​	5.6​	Starting LG

Since becoming head coach (Dec 2021) and admitting that he needs to focus on the trenches for the SEC, here are the OL recruits BV has brought in; 8 total with 1 already leaving and another nowhere on the depth chart.
Only one is a listed starter, and the rest are 2nd and 3rd team guys.

There are 4 recruits listed on this cycle which won't contribute next year. The guys above may or may not be starting material next year. We're going to be stuck digging for gold in the transfer portal. I just don't see this getting better next year. Tell me I'm wrong.

The biggest part of the problem is that the state is not producing many quality linemen. Not even one every other year. You can't rely on guys from other states. That's the primary reason we lost Green. We can't rely on that alone. But we do need to be able to some.

 

[8085sooner]

The big issue NIL and donors falling in love with skill positions. We have lost out on a lot of recruits because we spent more on skill over trenches. BV has preached hard for Dlineman and we have seen better recruits but we have lost out on Olineman. Signing a low 4 star or high 3 star, is easy for OU and they do not get the deals others players are offered. Mostly due to the fact that 95% will not see any significant playing time for at least a year. Signing a high 4 star or 5 star takes money and we haven't prioritized Olineman recruits.

Right now it takes 18-21 million to be Top 5 team recruiting, 15 million to be Top 6-10. Our collective is more of a Jerry Jones general manager type, when we need a Sam Presti.

 

[hubstar55]

The big issue NIL and donors falling in love with skill positions. We have lost out on a lot of recruits because we spent more on skill over trenches. BV has preached hard for Dlineman and we have seen better recruits but we have lost out on Olineman. Signing a low 4 star or high 3 star, is easy for OU and they do not get the deals others players are offered. Mostly due to the fact that 95% will not see any significant playing time for at least a year. Signing a high 4 star or 5 star takes money and we haven't prioritized Olineman recruits.

Right now it takes 18-21 million to be Top 5 team recruiting, 15 million to be Top 6-10. Our collective is more of a Jerry Jones general manager type, when we need a Sam Presti.

Are those numbers accurate? Where did you get those figures from? I am really curious how any university can afford that for football alone.

 

[OUSOONER67]

I heard Ole Piss has 10 Million in this yrs team.

 

[8085sooner]

Are those numbers accurate? Where did you get those figures from? I am really curious how any university can afford that for football alone.

Read an article of few months ago on 24/7. It referenced aTm #1 class at 18.? and OSU, 20.8 million for their #1 class. It broke down 1-25, with graphs 1-5, 6-10, 11-20, 21-25. UGA was also used in the article and they have been spending right at 18 million a year. OU was averaging 15 million and Switzer has commented that we need another 5 million to get us SEC ready.


24/7 is behind a paywall, here another article

https://www.on3.com/nil/news/on3s-top-15-nil-collectives-in-college-sports/

 

[hubstar55]

Read an article of few months ago on 24/7. It referenced aTm #1 class at 18.? and OSU, 20.8 million for their #1 class. It broke down 1-25, with graphs 1-5, 6-10, 11-20, 21-25. UGA was also used in the article and they have been spending right at 18 million a year. OU was averaging 15 million and Switzer has commented that we need another 5 million to get us SEC ready.


24/7 is behind a paywall, here another article

https://www.on3.com/nil/news/on3s-top-15-nil-collectives-in-college-sports/

Thanks for the info and link.

 

[ksigcajun]

Asking the four true frosh OL to make an immediate impact in the SEC is asking a bit much. Pierre-Louis and Brooks will eventually be solid starters at guard IMO, especially after a full year doing S&C here. Its the tackles that worry me.

Whomever did the evaluations of the OL NIL transfers we brought in needs to sit this cycle out: maybe a B- on Nwaiwu and Tarquin, and questionable money spent elsewhere. We need to make at least one competent OT a rich man this off season.

The same focus we put on Damonic Williams needs to be at OT. And frankly, if we didn't get Williams our D performance is no worse. 9 solos for the year (assists in the middle of the LOS count for a lot less IMO), 1 sack (vs Houston) and no forced fumbles, is not an adequate impact for the $ we shoveled out for him. I haven't heard one commentator say that X team is game-planning for him.