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OU vs. South Carolina availability report (Wednesday): Positive Derek Simmons update

headshotby: George Stoia10/16/25GeorgeStoia
Syndication: The Oklahoman
OL Derek Simmons (#66) goes through drills at the University of Oklahoma (OU) first fall open football practice, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025.

OU will have its starting right tackle on Saturday versus South Carolina.

Offensive lineman Derek Simmons was not listed on the initial availability report on Wednesday, which means he will be available on Saturday. Simmons injured his left ankle during the first quarter of the Texas game and did not return. On Tuesday, OU coach Brent Venables said Simmons is “day-to-day.” That might be a surprise considering how bad it looked during the game. But it looks like Simmons recovered well.

OU is still thin at offensive tackle. Backup offensive tackle Logan Howland is also hurt and was listed as doubtful, while Jacob Sexton and Jake Taylor are both out.

“I mean, it’s football. Everyone’s going to get hurt,” OU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said on Tuesday. “There’s a lot of people around the country are probably a little bit banged up. The biggest thing we can promote is the next man up mentality. And the standard doesn’t change, just cause the next man’s up. You have to find different ways as a coach to put those guys in position to be successful, help them out if there needs to be some help somewhere.

“But it’s the next man up mentality. So you got to continue getting guys back and healthy. So that comes from their process and recovery… We have to continue to work on that, but it’s a next man up mentality.”

As for the rest of the availability report, OU running back Jovantae Barnes was listed as questionable after surprisingly missing the Texas game.

“Jovantate, something happened pregame,” Venables said. “We thought initially it was his hamstring or something else. But I think it will be a short-term thing. I don’t really have any more information. Practiced yesterday, he’s moving around.”

Here is the full OU availability report for Wednesday:

  • RB Jovantae Barnes: Questionable
  • OL Logan Howland: Doubtful
  • WR Keontez Lewis: Doubtful
  • TE Kade McIntyre: Doubtful
  • OL Troy Everett: Out
  • OL Jacob Sexton: Out
  • OL Jake Taylor: Out

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