The Oklahoma Sooners have three offensive linemen lined up to enter the Transfer Portal once it officially opens on Friday, and considering all were backups who barely saw the field this season, the losses didn't send any shockwaves throughout Sooner Nation. However, as the exits begin to add up, it has created a new portal need for OU general manager Jim Nagy and the Sooners.
Pete Nakos of On3 reported on Monday that OU center Troy Everett is expected to transfer, becoming the third offensive linemen the Sooners are expected to lose after Jacob Sexton and Isaiah Dent. None of them appeared in more than two games this season.
Sooners not hurt by Troy Everett exit but portal help now feels unavoidable
Everett and Sexton are both veteran players who started at least a dozen games at some point for the Sooners, but overall, their times at OU were hindered by injuries. Both suffered season-ending injuries before Week 3 this season.
With Everett sidelined this season, Stanford transfer Jake Maikkula took over at center until missing the last two games of the season because of his own injury. As a redshirt junior in 2025, Maikkula is expected to return to Oklahoma for one final season in 2026.
Barring any portal blows, the Sooners are expected to return four of five starting offensive linemen from this season, with right guard Febechi Nwaiwu being the only loss after exhausting eligibility. Returners include freshman left tackle Michael Fasusi, redshirt freshman left guard Eddy Pierre-Louis, Maikkula and freshman right tackle Ryan Fodje.
Although the Sooners appear all set up front, with redshirt sophomore Heath Ozaeta expected to fill the open spot left by Nwaiwu, there's not much depth behind the starting five, especially with experience outside of tackle Luke Baklenko. At least one more veteran depth piece is what Nagy will have to add to his shopping list from the Transfer Portal once he can officially bring in talent.