Honestly, trying to pin down the OU football depth chart 2025 is like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands. Just when you think Brent Venables has a position group solidified, the transfer portal swings open or a freshman like Michael Fasusi starts manhandling upperclassmen in practice. It’s chaotic. It’s SEC football. And frankly, it’s exactly what Oklahoma fans have been waiting for since the move became official.
Coming off a 10-win season that saw the Sooners fight their way back into the College Football Playoff, the 2025 roster isn't just a collection of talent—it’s a survival kit for the most brutal conference in the country. We saw the highs, like that gritty win in Tuscaloosa, and the lows, like the hand injury that nearly derailed John Mateer’s debut season. But if you’re looking at the 2025 depth chart and seeing the same old names, you’re missing the actual story.
The Quarterback Room: John Mateer and the "What If" Factor
Basically, the season starts and ends with John Mateer. The Washington State transfer wasn't just a bridge; he was a revelation until that Auburn game. After throwing for over 300 yards a game in the first month, that hand surgery changed everything. You’ve gotta wonder what the CFP would’ve looked like if he’d been 100% in December.
Behind him, it’s… complicated. Michael Hawkins Jr. got the start against Kent State and, honestly, it was a bit of a mixed bag. He’s got the wheels, but the "it" factor that Mateer brings wasn't quite there yet.
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- QB1: John Mateer (RS-Junior)
- QB2: Michael Hawkins Jr. (Sophomore)
- Deep Depth: Whitt Newbauer, Shaker Reisig (Freshman)
Ben Arbuckle’s Air Raid scheme demands a lot of the signal-caller, and with Mateer heading into his second year in the system, the expectation is a massive leap in efficiency. No more three-interception games against Texas. That’s the hope, anyway.
The Backfield Shakeup: Why Jaydn Ott Changes Everything
If you looked at the early OU football depth chart 2025, you probably saw Jovantae Barnes at the top. He’s the veteran. He knows the protections. But then Jaydn Ott showed up from Cal via the portal and the math changed. Ott led the Pac-12 in rushing back in '23, and even though he’s been listed with an "OR" next to his name, everyone knows he’s the home-run hitter this offense was starving for.
It’s not just Ott, though. Tory Blaylock is the freshman everyone is whispering about. He’s fast. Like, track-star fast. Then you have Xavier Robinson, who is basically a human bowling ball. Venables has built a backfield that can beat you with finesse or just run right through your face.
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Tight End Chaos and the Jason Witten Factor
This is where things get wild. For two years, the tight end position was a black hole for Oklahoma. Joe Jon Finley is out, and in a move that nobody saw coming, Brent Venables hired Jason Witten. Yeah, that Jason Witten. The Dallas Cowboys legend is now coaching TEs in Norman.
The actual depth chart here is a project. Jaren Kanak—the former linebacker—is somehow the starter. He spent three years hitting people, and now he’s catching passes. It sounds crazy, but at 230-plus pounds with his speed, it’s a matchup nightmare.
- Starter: Jaren Kanak (Senior)
- The Vets: Will Huggins, Carson Kent
- The Future: Nate Roberts (Freshman)
Recruiting has picked up here too, but the immediate impact of Witten’s mentorship on a guy like Kanak is the X-factor for the 2025 offense.
The Trenches: Bedenbaugh’s Rebuild
You can't talk about the OU football depth chart 2025 without mentioning the offensive line. Bill Bedenbaugh had to replace basically everyone. The portal was the only answer. Bringing in Peyton Joseph from Georgia Tech and E’Marion Harris from Arkansas wasn't just about finding starters; it was about preventing the collapse we saw in 2024 when injuries forced guys to play through literal broken bones.
On the defensive side, it’s a different story. The DL is the strength of the team. R Mason Thomas is a certified star, and David Stone is already living up to the five-star hype. With Venables calling the plays himself now, this unit led the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss. They are the reason OU stayed in games when the offense was stagnant.
Defensive Line Key Players
- R Mason Thomas: The anchor on the edge.
- Damonic Williams: The mountain in the middle.
- Adepoju Adebawore: Pure speed off the corner.
- Jayden Jackson: A sophomore who plays like a 5th-year senior.
The "Cheetah" and the Secondary
The most unique part of an OU defense is the "Cheetah" position. It’s a hybrid linebacker/safety spot that requires a freak athlete. Kendal Daniels, the Oklahoma State transfer, has made that spot his own. He’s 6'4" and moves like a corner.
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In the secondary, Peyton Bowen is the guy. He’s everywhere. Whether he’s returning punts or picking off passes in the end zone, he is the heartbeat of the defense. The battle at cornerback between Gentry Williams and the young guns like Courtland Guillory is going to be fun to watch all through the spring.
Actionable Insights for the 2025 Season
If you're following the Sooners this year, keep an eye on these three specific developments that will determine if this team can actually win the SEC:
- The Turnover Margin: John Mateer has to protect the ball. The defense is elite enough to win games if the offense just stays out of its own way.
- The "Witten" Effect: Watch how the tight ends are used in the red zone. If Kanak becomes a legitimate threat, this offense becomes top-10 in the country.
- Offensive Line Continuity: Bedenbaugh needs his starting five to stay healthy. The depth is better than 2024, but the SEC is unforgiving to second-string guards.
Oklahoma is no longer the "new kid" in the SEC. The 2025 depth chart reflects a team that has finally adjusted to the size and speed of this league. It’s a roster built on the portal but anchored by elite high school recruiting, and if the pieces click, Norman is going to be a very loud place this November.