Two questions, one prediction on 2024 Oklahoma offensive line

Oklahoma fans are undoubtedly a little bummed by the preseason projections and previews that have their beloved Sooners no better than the seventh or eighth best team in the SEC for the coming season.

The irony is that most every national poll and preseason preview publication ranks Oklahoma as one of the 25 best FBS teams to begin the college football season.

Oklahoma's rather modest preseason projection by historical Sooner football standards is the direct result of several looming concerns entering its inaugural SEC season:

• Extremely difficult schedule (ranked as 7th hardest nationally by ESPN College Football Power Index).

• All new offensive line with five new starters.

• New starting quarterback who has started just one game prior to this season.

There is little Oklahoma can do about the schedule other than prepare the best it can and show up and play the games, but the Sooners success on offense, which has been the team strength for much of the past quarter century, is largely dependent on the performance of the offensive line and the ability of that position group to create lanes for the running backs and, most of all, protect the quarterback.

Starting quarterback Jackson Arnold will be the player counting the most on the big guys up front. The Sooners turned to the transfer portal in rebuilding the O-line for the big and strong SEC defensive fronts, adding tackles Michael Tarquin from USC, and Spencer Brown from Michigan State, center Branson Hickman from SMU and guards Febechi Nwaiwu from North Texas and Geirean Hatchett from Washington.

The Sooners also return juniors Troy Everett, who can play center or tackle, and tackle Jacob Sexton, both of whom made four starts last season. Although Everett is recovering from a knee injury in March and will probably miss the beginning of the season.

Acclimating to a new offensive system and new teammates

Because at least four of the five new starters on the offensive line are newcomers to the team this season and have never played together, the big question is how fast can they come together as a unit and get on the same page communication wise in terms getting signals down and understanding defensive fronts and blitz packages.

Can this group become a well-oiled machine in one season?

If anyone can accomplish this, it is offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, considered one of the best in the college game, and there are good indications after the first week of fall practice that the group is coming together nicely.

In the 11 seasons Bedenbaugh has served on the Oklahoma coaching staff, he has placed 13 offensive linemen in the NFL Draft.

"I've really seen (the) O-line gel, not only as a team but as friends," Jackson Arnold told reporters after practice this week. "They've gotten really close over this past offseason. They've created a really good brotherhood and just really got close to each other to where they're at the point to where they're holding each other accountable, they're yelling at each other.

"Everyone came in (to fall practice) ready to play, but also ready to learn," said OT Jacob Sexton.

While brining in five new transfers as prospective offensive line starters will always raise questions and some concerns, this could also be a more experienced group than the one that played together the past two years, which could make this year's offensive line as good, if not even better, than what lost after last season.

The five offensive line transfers Oklahoma has added to the roster for the 2024 season combined for 44 starts a year ago.

Although a group of one-and-done transfers will bolster the Sooners offensive line needs in 2024, Bedenbaugh will also be blending in several O-line prospects from OU's outstanding 2024 recruiting class and have three offensive line commitments for 2025, including elite four-star tackle Ryan Fodje. Notable freshmen to keep an eye on this season are interior offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis and tackle Daniel Akinkunmi.

One bold prediction

This may not be Oklahoma's ideal answer to an offensive line of SEC quality standards, but it should wield enough experience and technical skill to hold its own and create ample offensive opportunities for Jackson Arnold and his arsenal of weapons to produce at least eight and possibly nine victories this season.