Fall Camp Hurry-Up: Volume 1

NORMAN – The Oklahoma football team opened preseason camp Wednesday morning, taking the field for the first time as a team in preparation for the 2026 season. This first edition of SoonerSports.com's annual Q&A series, "The Hurry-Up", features junior running back Lloyd Avant, sophomore offensive lineman Michael Fasusui and sixth-year linebacker Owen Heinecke.

RB Lloyd Avant

How's your first fall camp as a Sooner going?

"It's been going great. Starting off strong and just trying to make sure we get everything right and everybody on the same page."

What's been your favorite thing about OU so far?

"The team chemistry that we have here. The brotherhood, the buy-in, everybody on the same page and the one-goal mentality that we have to win a championship."

Who's your favorite athlete in any sport?

"I would say Floyd Mayweather."

If you had to listen to a couple of musical artists for the rest of your life, who would you choose?

"I would choose Rod Wave and NBA YoungBoy."

What type of impact do you want to leave on the rest of the guys in your room?

"I want to be somebody that you can lean on. It doesn't matter what age you are, what year you are, we're all on the same page. We are all each other's brothers and we're all together."

OL Michael Fasusi

How's camp been for you so far?

"It's been amazing. Seeing everything we've done as a team and as an offensive line come into balance and showing up every single day. The physicality is there, the communication is there and just getting better is the biggest thing."

What's your favorite thing about OU?

"I always say the people and the culture. The culture when we do things, everything's up to an elite standard here and it's up to you as a person to execute that. At the same time, you have to bring others along and OU has the right people who push you in the right place and guide you through everything. There's also the football part of it. I have Coach Bedenbaugh, Coach Wilson, Coach Venables and this whole coaching staff. They really improve you every single day through your technique, mentality and communication. We also have everything you need off the field from the trainers, the nutrition staff, and academics. Just amazing people.

What's your favorite movie?

"I watch a lot of good movies. I like thrillers and horror movies. I'm going to have to go with Old Guard, the first one, amazing movie. Also Fight Club, that's a good one. If I had to choose it'd have to be Fight Club. That's a good one."

If you had to listen to three musical artists for the rest of your life, who'd you choose?

"No. 1 is a Nigerian artist named Asake. No. 2 would be Larry June, I really like him and he's got cool stuff. No. 3 would be NBA YoungBoy."

What kind of impact do you want to leave on the younger guys in your room?

"I want to leave an amazing mentality, and an amazing love and passion for the game. Every time we come out to this field, and we put in our best, everything's going to turn out great for us. At the same time, I just come out here every single day and show these guys and help them develop their mentality. I want to lead them with love and the right technique and just being a resource, that's the biggest thing. I want to be a resource for all these guys. Coach Venables talks to us about being a leader and asking 'How many people have you made better today?'. That's the type of influence that I want to leave every single day."

LB Owen Heinecke

How's the start of camp going?

"Camp's been great. The team is flying around. The energy is high. The buy-in is high, so it's been a really good camp so far and we're going to keep working. This is just the beginning of a long, grueling camp and if we keep trending it the way we're trending, it's going to be really great."

What's your favorite thing about OU?

"My favorite thing about OU is probably what it taught me about myself. Just to bet on yourself and trust the Lord's plans. If you're willing to outwork everybody else, then eventually you're going to get your opportunity. It doesn't matter where you are in life, OU or anyplace else. It's going to work out for you."

Why'd you choose your jersey number?

"I didn't choose this jersey number. I was a walk-on when I first got here, so 38 was given to me. Fun fact: for one practice I wore 35, and then the next day I was 38, and I had no reason why I got switched, but it just kind of stuck. I used to always be 21 for LaDainian Tomlinson, but when I got here it switched to 38."

What type of impact do you want to leave on the younger guys?

"That was a big motivator for me coming back was just being able to step into a leadership role, teach and leave a legacy here. We graduated a really stacked linebacker class and that filled the role for a couple young guys to step up and they've been doing that. To be able to teach and lead and impart what I've learned here so that they can have a head start. That's the goal of every program is to build on the last team. We had a great year last year, but we're looking to build this year and when I'm gone, I hope they continue building. I think to do that, I want to leave an identity that is one of culture, our shared beliefs and hard work. That's a real motivator."

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RB Lloyd Avant

OL Michael Fasusi

LB Owen Heinecke

Players Mentioned

Lloyd Avant

Michael Fasusi

Owen Heinecke

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics