OU guard Eddy Pierre-Louis focused on bringing 'intensity' to the offensive line
NORMAN — Oklahoma guard Eddy Pierre-Louis found himself in a viral moment during last weekend’s win at Tennessee.
With the Sooners leading 26-24 late, the offense huddled near the sideline before a pivotal first-and-goal at the one-yard line. Pierre-Louis was seen headbutting his teammate, Michael Fasusi, before sprinting on the field.
The Sooners scored on the next play.
“Actually, Mike Fasusi is the one who got me hyped up,” Pierre-Louis explained during Wednesday’s availability. “He was talking to me like, ‘Come on we’ve got to get this. This is an opportunity for us to get up big.’ And man, out of nowhere, I just gave him a little headbutt. That was something that we got in tuned to it and he hit be back in the head.
“And when I watched the video, I realized Michael was running a lot faster so I was like it’s good that we’re bringing that source of energy and source of juice, having fun out that. That was the most important thing.”
Pierre-Louis has always been focused on bringing that kind of juice, and he’s been able to show it over the last couple of games in a big way.
The redshirt freshman has largely played in a reserve role over his first two seasons. Pierre-Louis played 74 snaps through the first seven games largely at the end of games.
But early in the Ole Miss game, Pierre-Louis saw his first big opportunity. Despite not starting, Pierre-Louis played 45 snaps and graded out well, particularly in pass-blocking (74.7). The Sooners gave him the start at left guard in the win over Tennessee, and he allowed just one quarterback pressure while playing all 66 snaps.
“It felt good to have an opportunity to get out there and play with the guys and actually play with the team,” Pierre-Louis said. “I actually got other snaps on special teams so it was always about playing my role and I got a bigger role so I was able to step up a little bit and help the team get a win.”
For Pierre-Louis, the Tennessee game was an opportunity for him to see how he performed with a full allotment of snaps. But it didn’t change anything with his mindset. Even when he spent most of last season on the scout team, Pierre-Louis’ main focus has always been bringing energy.
“It was always about the intensity level,” Pierre-Louis said. “I always felt like I always needed to bring that 110 percent each and every play, even though sometimes fundamentals, technique, I’ve still got to work on that. Still a lot of things I’ve got to work on in general, but just being (about) that and having intensity, that’s something nobody can take from you.
The coaching staff had always noticed that in intensity, including OU coach Brent Venables.
“I think, more than anything, (he’s) staying emotionally invested,” Venables said about Pierre-Louis. “And then the way you see him out on the field, that’s how he practices. He runs out of the huddle. He sprints to the line. But it’s a very infectious thing, the mindset, the attitude, the passion, the energy. To me, it starts there. The best units have that if they have something. Everybody’s a little bit different, but I think Eddy has a unique ability to bring out the best in everybody around him.
“He’s stayed ready. He hasn’t gotten discouraged and lost his way… He’s jumped at the opportunity. He’s ready for the opportunity. That’s the challenge to other guys. (We) talk about that all the time. Don’t grow weary. Stay invested, and stay ready. He’s certainly done that.”
Pierre-Louis will have to keep bringing that intensity. He’s made a compelling case to play significant snaps at left guard the rest of the season. With the Sooners (7-2, 3-2 SEC) landing at No. 12 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, they need to keep winning to stay in the postseason hunt.
There’s still ways Pierre-Louis can improve, but the Sooners know he’ll always have the same mindset.
“That was also something my mom preached to me,” Pierre-Louis said. “Just go out there and play with your heart and that’s what I feel like I’ve been playing with. Just continue that.”