The Oklahoma Sooners desperately need depth along the offensive line out of the Transfer Portal, and although they need even more, the Sooners got their first piece.
Former Western Kentucky and Virginia Tech offensive lineman Caleb Nitta committed to the Sooners early Monday morning, according to On3's Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong. Nitta will have two years of eligibility left.
Western Kentucky OL Caleb Nitta commits to Sooners
Nitta, listed at 6-foot-2 and 297 pounds, just put himself on the map for an opportunity like this after an impressive season at Western Kentucky as a redshirt sophomore. He started nine games at center this season while making the first starts of his career. According to Pro Football Focus, Nitta allowed only two sacks and seven total pressures all season while directing the O-line.
Nitta was just in the Transfer Portal last year after transferring to Western Kentucky from Virginia Tech. Despite being unrated and unranked out of Tuscarora High School in Virginia, the Hokies still took a chance and signed Nitta in 2023. He then redshirted in 2023 and appeared in three games last season before entering the portal.
This wasn't an addition that OU fans will talk about around the water cooler, but was still vital for the Sooners to get, and more like it should be on the way soon. The Sooners have four of five solidified starting offensive line returning and should already have a front five decided in Michael Fasusi, Eddy Pierre-Louis, Jake Maikkula, Heath Ozaeta and Ryan Fodje for 2026.
That group includes Maikkula, who started 10 games at center this season after transferring from Stanford. Any other player who got time at center this season, though, is gone, including Troy Everett, who started Week 1, and Febechi Nwaiwu, who was OU's emergency center the final two games when Maikkula was injured.
The fact the Sooners ever even needed an emergency center to slide over from a different position, and also had similar issues at the position in 2024, shows how important a depth piece like Nitta is there, especially since he can fill in just about anywhere along the line. And pieces like that could be even harder to find in the portal than starters with most players in the portal looking for more opportunity, not less.