Just as the Oklahoma Sooners were confident in a replacement for starting center Jake Maikkula, they're back to the drawing board just three days before they open their season against UTEP at 7 p.m. CT Friday in Norman.
SoonerScoop's George Stoia reported, then Sooner on SI's John Hoover confirmed on Tuesday that Ryan Fodje will not play in OU's season opener after getting injured during Monday's practice. Fodje was listed as the starting center on OU's initial depth chart, which was released on Monday. Now, Western Kentucky transfer Caleb Nitta will likely get promoted from backup to starter for his OU debut. Freshman Noah Best could also be in the mix and Gunnar Allen was listed as the third-string.
According to Hoover, Fodje injured his knee and it's not expected to be serious enough to sideline him long-term, but he will have an MRI soon to confirm his status. Maikkula also injured his knee during a scrimmage over fall camp and strained his MCL. His original timetable was 4-6 weeks, which had Maikkula returning for Week 2 against Michigan at the earliest.
Jake Maikkula replacement unknown again with Michigan looming
It was then a battle between Fodje, Nitta and Best to replace Maikkula. Despite never playing center before, other than a little bit in high school, Fodje emerged as the best option, and the entire program seemed confident in the sophomore who started six games last season between right guard and right tackle.
“I think I’m beyond the impressed part now after kind of being here for a year, and us being able to see his versatility — his position versatility,” head coach Brent Venables said during Monday's press conference. “He’s displayed that since he got here. I would just say it’s an affirmation of who he’s been, just from a consistency standpoint.”
There was never really any fear about the Sooners being down at center against UTEP, which is by far the easiest opponent on OU's schedule, but there is worry about the next week with a trip to No. 16 Michigan looming. That warm-up against UTEP set up the perfect timeline for Fodje to get his first game experience at the position before a much tougher task in the Wolverines on the road.
Nitta, or whoever else might get the nod there now, will get the same experience, but there's still concern about needing to use the third option against a top-20 opponent. Best-case scenario, Fodje is back in time to play Michigan, but then he's adjusting to snapping the ball and making calls on the road against Michigan instead of at home against UTEP.
There was also just a lot more confidence in Fodje as a former four-star recruit who gained valuable SEC experience as a freshman. Nitta just came from Western Kentucky, where he started nine games last season. He did at least hold his own in a game against LSU. Before WKU, though, Nitta never saw the field in two years at Virginia Tech. He's obviously gotten better since, especially under OU offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, but there's still a reason he wasn't the top choice to replace Maikkula, even as the only one with experience at the position. It also wouldn't be comforting if Best was thrown out there at a brand new position while getting his first-ever taste of college football.
Bedenbaugh has built a deep offensive line with a lot of versatility to prepare for situations like this, but there's still just so much the Sooners can brace for, and no one anticipates losing two starting centers before the season even starts.
The level of concern in Norman just jumped to a new level, and it already feels like we'll have to deal with the same offensive line carrousel the Sooners had the last two years.
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