Position Preview: Offensive Line

NORMAN — Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh has put together a unit that continues to help lead the Sooners to high levels of point production. A year ago, the Sooners faced the daunting task of replacing a pair of NFL-caliber tackles. Entering the 2016 season, the tackles are the cornerstone of the offensive line.

TACKLES

Following a redshirt season, Orlando Brown was rock solid for OU at left tackle a year ago, starting in all 13 games and earning All-Big 12 Second Team honors and freshman All-America acclaim from Sporting News. Even for an NFL tackle, Brown's size would be considered elite. Standing 6-8 and weighing 357 pounds, he moves well for his frame. Brown consistently overwhelmed pass rushers a year ago and was also a dependable piece of Oklahoma's dominant ground game. He will once again protect quarterback Baker Mayfield's blind side in 2016.

Sophomore Dru Samia served as Brown's counterpart on the right side of the line last year. Then a true freshman, Samia played 12 games at right tackle with nine starts. At 6-4 and 274 pounds, Samia is a versatile athlete who can play both tackle and guard. His ability to play multiple positions will allow Bedenbaugh to find the Sooners' optimal offensive line combination and makes OU more resilient against potential injury.

Also pushing for playing time at tackle is redshirt freshman Bobby Evans. A consensus four-star recruit, Evans is similar in stature to Samia at 6-4 and 299 pounds. Evans, the younger brother of linebacker Tay Evans, arrived at OU with a reputation as an athletic tackle with great mobility.

Providing depth in the rotation, the Sooners also have redshirt junior Christian Daimler (who has missed time recently with injury) and redshirt sophomore Quinn Mittermeier (a transfer from Butler Community College).

INTERIOR LINEMEN

The first item on the to-do list for the interior line will be replacing the leadership of graduates and first-team All-Big 12 selections Ty Darlington and Nila Kasitati, the latter of whom went undrafted but is currently in camp with Washington.

Junior Jonathan Alvarez is likely to slide over to center after making 10 starts as a sophomore a year ago (nine at left guard, one at center). That would leave both guard spots up for grabs.

Redshirt freshman Cody Ford is a favorite for one of those positions. Hailing from Pineville, La., Ford measures at 6-3 and 317 pounds and comes to OU having been rated a four-star prospect by Rivals.com. Bedenbaugh has raved about his potential. Sophomore transfer Ben Powers could take the other guard spot. A four-star recruit according to ESPN, Powers spent last season at Butler Community College and chose Oklahoma after also considering TCU.

Redshirt junior Ashton Julious is also vying for playing time at guard. Huge at 6-5 and 354 pounds, Julious transferred from Lackawana College and, like Powers, arrived in Norman in January to participate in spring practice.

Senior Erick Wren is making his best case for playing time so far in camp. The 6-2, 308-pound walk-on from Mesquite, Texas, who has taken snaps at center, played in three games a year ago. Redshirt sophomore Alex Dalton is also in the rotation at center. A four-star recruit according to ESPN and Rivals.com, Dalton saw action in seven contests in 2015 before a knee injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.

TACKLES

INTERIOR LINEMEN

Players Mentioned

Jonathan Alvarez

Orlando Brown

Christian Daimler

Alex Dalton

Ty Darlington

Bobby Evans

Tay Evans

Tay Evans

Cody Ford

Ashton Julious

Nila Kasitati

Baker Mayfield

Quinn Mittermeier

Ben Powers

Dru Samia

Erick Wren

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics