Oklahoma Sooners’ head coach, now entering his fourth season in Norman, knows the stakes. Brent Venables doesn’t have the luxury of time. 2 losing seasons in three years, a looming transition into the SEC, and mounting pressure to deliver have put him squarely under the microscope. While the Sooners have shown flashes of the team they’re expected to be, inconsistency—particularly in the trenches—has kept them from regaining their place among the elite. Last season, the offensive line was in perpetual flux, a revolving door of personnel that never quite settled until the tail end of the campaign. But as the Sooners prepare to open spring practice, Venables appears determined to flip the script, ensuring that this time, the foundation is solid before the season kicks off.
Last season, Oklahoma’s offensive front was in flux for most of the year, with O-line coach Bill Bedenbaugh shuffling all 5-for-5 across the front combinations well into November before finally settling on a unit that could hold its own. At the heart of that effort is Oklahoma’s pursuit of elite offensive line talent, and few names loom larger than four-star Breck Kolojay. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound IMG Academy standout is No. 49 in the 2025 class, holding offers from 32 programs nationwide. The Michigan target’s recruitment has been a whirlwind, with visits to over ten schools already under his belt, but Oklahoma has positioned itself firmly in the race.
The Sooners have secured an official visit with Kolojay on April 12, On3’s Chad Simmons recently reported, a crucial opportunity for Brent Venables and Bedenbaugh to make their case. Relying less on the transfer portal and instead placing a premium on high school talent. So, this allows him to join Will Conroy, the interior offensive lineman from Cleveland, OH, already a December 24’ verbal commit of OU.
Oklahoma’s efforts to rebuild its offensive line pipeline are already taking shape, with four incoming freshmen headlined by five-star Michael Fasusi and four-star Ryan Fodje. Adding Kolojay to that mix would be a statement—both in terms of talent acquisition and in reinforcing the notion that the Sooners can still go toe-to-toe with the nation’s top programs on the recruiting trail.
Kolojay has locked in an OV with Oklahoma for the weekend of April 12.
Do him and Conroy end up teammates in Norman? https://t.co/CqBU7rFmnT@Josh_Scoop https://t.co/iRpfwTuVb5
— ChadSimmons (@ChadSimmons_) March 4, 2025
The importance of in-person visits hasn’t been lost on Kolojay, who told On3, “Visits were important too. Some of these schools I have visited and I have gotten a good feel for the programs. I feel like I can fit into each one of these programs well.” That’s the kind of measured approach that makes his recruitment so intriguing; he’s not just looking for the flashiest offer—he’s looking for the right fit.
For Brent Venables, landing Kolojay isn’t just about adding another talented body to the roster; it’s about momentum. ESPN’s Bill Connelly recently placed him among the head coaches with “the most to prove in 2025”, and for good reason. Oklahoma’s 2025 recruiting class finished ranked 16th nationally and ninth in the SEC—solid, but not exactly the dominance Sooners fans have come to expect. If Venables is to steer the program back toward championship contention, winning battles for blue-chip linemen like Kolojay is a must.
His commitment could provide a much-needed boost in perception and confidence, especially as the Sooners gear up for the physical gauntlet that awaits in their new conference home.
As spring practice kicks off, Oklahoma’s offensive line isn’t the jigsaw puzzle it was a year ago, but there’s still work to be done.
Brent Venables’ O-Line in 2025? Bigger, Better, and Battle-Tested
The Venables era is rolling into another spring, and one thing is clear—Oklahoma’s offensive line is set to be much improved in 2025. With only three seniors departing (all 2024 transfers), the Sooners are in a great spot depth-wise, thanks to a brutal injury-riddled 2024 season that forced several players into action. Now, that experience is about to pay off.
At right-guard, Bedenbaugh has his guy in Febechi Nwaiwu. The former North Texas standout had some ups and downs adjusting to the SEC, but he proved to be a dependable presence. The numbers don’t lie—864 snaps last season, after logging 883 and 713 in his last two years at UNT. The 6-foot-4, 339-pound is a workhorse, and that consistency will be crucial up front.
Meanwhile, the biggest battle to watch this spring is at right tackle. Enter Oklahoma’s two Jakes—Jake Taylor and Jacob Sexton. Both arrived in 2022 and seem like ideal candidates to fight for the job. But don’t count out Kolojay and Conroy either—adding them to the mix could make things even more interesting.
Long story short? The Sooners’ O-line is shaping up to be bigger, deeper, and flat-out better than last year.
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