Oklahoma football: Summer arrival profile – EJ Ndoma-Ogar
After stacking up several classes worth of quality depth the Oklahoma offensive line has a waiting list that usually doesn’t allow for true freshman starters, but EJ Ndoma-Ogar will step on campus with skillset and mentality perfectly in line with what Bill Bedenbuagh wants to do up front.
At 6-foot-3 and 310 pounds, Allen, Texas offensive guard EJ Ndoma-Ogar steps onto campus in Norman this summer with a college-ready body and checks just about every box the Sooners are looking for in an offensive lineman right now. Ndoma-Ogar was a four-star recruit and the No. 17 offensive guard in the country according to 247 sports (No. 19 according to Rivals). He chose the Sooners over offers from Alabama, Texas, Florida, Michigan and many others.
He played his high school ball at Allen, the same Texas high school powerhouse that produced reigning Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray, current Sooner Lee Morris and fellow 2019 Oklahoma recruit Theo Wease.
What he brings to the table
Watching his film, EJ Ndoma-Ogar is a prototypical Sooner interior lineman. He’s big, strong, fast off the ball and surprisingly agile for a player his size.
While he’s a more-than-capable pass blocker, its in the run game that you really get to see Ndoma-Ogar shine. He has a great first punch that sets his targets on their heels and a relentless motor that continues to drive opponents off the ball until the whistle blows. He gets to the second and third level quickly and does a great job tracking smaller linebackers and safeties with his hips.
Another thing that shines from his tape are his instincts. Ndoma-Ogar always finds someone to put a hat on, even if his guy isn’t in the spot he’s supposed to be. He is great at peeling back and picking up that crucial seal block that can turn a 10-yard run into a 40-yard touchdown.
Where he fits in
The Sooners don’t have a ton of experience back at the guard spots, but there’s a lengthy line of guys trying to break into the starting lineup at this point. Marquis Hayes was one of the better performers in the Sooners spring game and looks like he could become an absolute mauler at one of the guards, while Tyrese Robinson, Darrell Simpson, Brey Walker and grad transfer R.J. Proctor will all compete for the other starting guard spot.
Ndoma-Ogar has experience playing other positions on the offensive line and he may end up being best suited to back up Creed Humphrey at center going into 2019. He could be the heir appearant at that position should Humphrey – a steady riser on most draft boards – decide to go pro after his redshirt sophomore season.
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Still, if Ndoma-Ogar sees more than spot duty as a true freshman that probably means something unexpected (or several unexpected things) have happened to the guys in front of him on the depth chart this season.
About this series
We are taking a look at every Oklahoma football summer enrollee from the 2019 class. In this series we will examine each player’s high school/junior college achievements, what they bring to the table for the Sooners and where they fit in to the big picture in the 2019 season.
Previous spotlighted players include:
Rhamondre Stevenson – Running back
Ty DeArman – Safety