Heading into second season, OL Eddy Pierre-Louis fighting for starting spot

NORMAN — At SEC Media Days last month, Brent Venables first mentioned Eddy Pierre-Louis as an underclassman who could take a big leap this fall.

A week into fall camp, it’s clear that wasn’t just lip service.

The sophomore offensive lineman has been much more of a presence on the practice field compared to last season. Last fall, Pierre-Louis wasn’t anywhere close to cracking the two-deep depth chart at the guard position. This fall, Pierre-Louis is making an awfully strong case to be the Sooners’ starting left guard.

Venables has seen Pierre-Louis’ growth up close.

“Eddy Pierre-Louis, he had not gotten here until last summer,” Venables said before fall camp. “So he was a little bit behind mentally, fundamentally. What he did in high school, that’s a hard position to fundamentally step in, and physically, for that matter. Eddy’s really made tremendous improvement as well. His confidence (is in) a much different place.

“He’s actually leading in some capacity now.”

That last point is the important one.

Pierre-Louis spent most of last season working on the scout team. This spring, he saw his opportunities increase, particularly with Heath Ozaeta missing with a labrum injury.

That’s continued into the fall. He’s gotten the majority of the first-team reps at left guard, joining Troy Everett, Jacob Sexton and Febechi Nwaiwu as the core nucleus of the Sooners’ projected starting offensive line.

It’s been a much different experience for Pierre-Louis compared to last season.

“This is my second go-around with camp,” Pierre-Louis said. “I’m a lot more experienced. The game got a little slower. Still things I have to improve on, mentally and physically. I feel like this has been a good way for me to adapt through this whole process.”

The Tampa, Florida native has tried his best to seize that opportunity. For one, he’s added 10 pounds since last season, being listed at 314 pounds on the official fall roster. He’s taken a step forward in both the weight room and the film room.

“Every day, coming in with a good, competitive mindset against each other,” Pierre-Louis said. “But also, the spot is for the taking. Anybody’s spot can get taken. We have good dudes.”

But he hasn’t just grown his skillset. Even as a second-year player, he’s taken a step in leading the other guys in the room, particularly freshmen like Michael Fasusi and Ryan Fodje.

“Eddy’s become more of a vocal leader as a young guy, which is always great,” Everett said. “It’s always good to have a younger guy in there that wants to step up and take charge. I know a lot of younger guys — like, when I was a freshman, I didn’t want to say anything. I just want to do my job and shut up. But Eddy comes in there and does his job and he’ll talk.”

There’s a long way to go for both Pierre-Louis and the offensive line, which ranked as one of the worst units in the country last season. But with the growth of players like Pierre-Louis, the Sooners are hoping the offensive line can take a massive step forward in 2025.

“We’re young and learning each and every single day,” Pierre-Louis said. “I see progression each and every day across the whole board and something we keep talking across the film room and every time we talk in a meeting.”

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