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Deacon Schmitt’s Spring Could Signal a Stronger Offensive Line for Oklahoma

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Deacon Schmitt’s Spring Could Signal a Stronger Offensive Line for Oklahoma


Sooners on SI will spotlight ten players who need a big spring to solidify their place on the depth chart, improve and/or help Oklahoma build off its 2025 College Football Playoff momentum. Each day, we’ll break down one player’s background, progress, and what’s on the line as Brent Venables’ team takes shape during spring football.

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Last season, Oklahoma was sort of forced into playing freshman tackle Michael Fasusi. His talent, coupled with the Sooners’ lack of established returning starters — who were healthy — allowed for the right situation for the young Fasusi to see the field as a starter.

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Fasusi was later joined by fellow true freshman guard Ryan Fodje on the offensive line partially due to his budding talent but also injuries that forced Bill Bedenbaugh to shuffle guys around.

As the season wore on, Fasusi established himself as a solid starter while Fodje was inconsistent as he switched from guard to tackle and back to guard. Redshirt freshman Eddy Pierre-Louis came in during the second half of the season to establish a foundation for the future.

All to say, while OU feels significantly better about its offensive line situation heading into 2026, there’s still room for young players to establish themselves this spring — like incoming true freshman Deacon Schmitt.

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Oklahoma center Troy Everett talks with offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh before one of the Sooners’ fall practices. | Ryan Chapman / Sooners on SI

The 6-5, 315-pound guard from Windsor, CO, has the physical tools you’d want in a player with a goal to see the field early. As an early enrollee, he will have the advantage of working under new strength and conditioning coach James Dobson to get physically ready to establish himself in the spring.

Schmitt was one of two offensive linemen (Noah Best being the other) to sign with the Sooners last December for the class of 2026. Per On3, Schmitt earned a high-4-star rating along with being a top-20 player at his position in the country. Both freshmen will have real chances to climb the two-deep this spring, but Schmitt’s physical tools give him the edge over Best.


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Oklahoma lost Febechi Nwaiwu and Derek Simmons to graduation following 2025.

Depth pieces like Jacob Sexton (Oklahoma State), Luke Baklenko (Arizona State), Logan Howland (Virginia Tech), Jake Taylor (Iowa State), and Isaiah Autry-Dent (Mississippi State) all transferred out of the program.

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General manager Jim Nagy grabbed former Arkansas starting right tackle E’Marrion Harris — who has the upper hand to take over for Simmons on the right side — as well as Caleb Nitta from Western Kentucky and Peyton Joseph of Georgia Tech. The latter two players appear to be depth or developmental additions.

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If Schmitt can ascend up the depth chart thanks to a strong spring, it would be a welcome addition to a top-heavy offensive line unit.

Windsor football player Deacon Schmitt during a Class 3A semifinal game against Holy Family on Nov. 29, 2025. | Kevin Lytle/The Coloradoan / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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While Fodje impressed at right guard and right tackle for a freshman, the young lineman still has a ways to go. Competition would only allow for a better product if Schmitt can push this spring.

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Schmitt’s trajectory is not to supplant anyone on the offensive line, but merely to develop quickly to help rebuild Oklahoma’s offensive line back to its pre-2020 greatness.

OU hit it out of the park with their freshman offensive line additions last season. It hastened the pace of Bedenbaugh’s line, returning to the days of Creed Humphrey and Orlando Brown. But they’re not quite yet at the summit. They’ll need another season of young players like Schmitt thrusting themselves into the two-deep so the Sooners aren’t an ankle roll away from disaster.

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Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: Feb. 22, 2026

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Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: Feb. 22, 2026


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OU vs Texas A&M Recap: Sooners Rally Falls Short on Buddy Hield Banner Night

Oklahoma honored Buddy Hield and the 2015-16 Final Four team, but the Sooners couldn’t complete a late comeback in a 75-71 loss to Texas A&M. Dayton Forsythe led OU with 14 points as the Sooners dropped to 13-14 overall and 3-11 in SEC play.





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OHP issues Endangered Missing Advisory for Logan County teen

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OHP issues Endangered Missing Advisory for Logan County teen


The Oklahoma Highway Patrol has activated an Endangered Missing Advisory for a 16-year-old last seen Saturday evening in Logan County.

According to troopers, Beniya Scott-Pettit was last seen on Feb. 21, 2026, at approximately 5 p.m. in Logan County.

She is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing about 260 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie and light gray sweatpants.

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Authorities say there is no associated vehicle and she is believed to have left on foot. Her destination and direction of travel are unknown.

The advisory states the juvenile has been diagnosed with anxiety and has a history of self-harm, prompting the endangered designation.

Anyone who sees Beniya Scott-Pettit or has information about her whereabouts is urged to call 9-1-1 immediately.

This remains an active advisory. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

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Oklahoma Falls Short Against Texas A&M as Sooners Struggle from Field

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Oklahoma Falls Short Against Texas A&M as Sooners Struggle from Field


NORMAN — Even on a stagnant offensive night, the Sooners had a chance late — but they were unable to finish.

Oklahoma fell 75-71 to Texas A&M for its second loss in a row. The Sooners’ defeat marks their second against the Aggies this season, as they lost to A&M in College Station on Jan. 10.

OU fell to 13-14 overall and 3-11 in SEC play with the loss, while A&M improved to 19-8 and 9-5 with the victory.

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Here are three takeaways from the game:

Three-point shooting not enough for OU

Oklahoma’s shooters pulled the trigger often from deep.

The Sooners went 11-of-30 from beyond the arc. Five different OU players — Dayton Forsythe, Kuol Atak, Nijel Pack, Xzayvier Brown and Jadon Jones — hit multiple 3-pointers.

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The problem? Oklahoma didn’t have the same efficiency inside the perimeter.

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Oklahoma shot 33 percent from the floor. The Sooners particularly struggled in the second half, making only seven of their 28 field-goal attempts (25 percent).

OU also couldn’t find much offense down low, as the Aggies outscored the Sooners 32-12 in the paint.

Despite these woes from the field, OU was within reach until the final seconds.

Trailing 74-71 with 18 seconds left, the Sooners had a chance to tie the game. But Forsythe missed a three-point attempt, and the Aggies secured the rebound. 

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A&M guard Rylen Griffen made one of his two free-throw attempts to ice the Aggies’ win.

Forsythe logs quality bench minutes

Forsythe didn’t start Saturday’s game, but he was still one of Oklahoma’s most impactful players.

A sophomore guard from Dale, OK, Forsythe logged 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting, and he made two 3-pointers. He played 29 of the game’s 40 minutes.

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In addition to his scoring numbers, Forsythe registered six assists and one rebound. Five of his assists came in the first half.

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Forsythe entered Saturday’s game averaging 5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists. His XXXX points were a season high, and it marked only his third time in double figures in the 2025-26 season.

Two home games left

After Saturday’s loss, the Sooners have only two games remaining at the Lloyd Noble Center this year.

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Oklahoma will host Auburn on Tuesday before playing its final home game against Missouri on March 3.

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The Sooners came into Saturday’s game ranked No. 69 in the NET, which are used heavily by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. A win against the Aggies would have added another quad-two victory to OU’s resume, but the Sooners squandered their chance to climb in the NET.

Realistically, Oklahoma’s only chance to make the tourney is to win the SEC Tournament. Even if the Sooners were to win all four of their remaining regular-season games and a handful of contests at the SEC tourney, they likely would be on the wrong side of the bubble.

Tuesday’s game against Auburn will tip off at 8 p.m.



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