The offensive line continues to be the top storyline in Oklahoma Sooners’ fall camp. The Sooners are going to be relying on incoming transfers to fill several of the spots along their offensive line. But one position that continues to be up for grabs is the center spot.
The expectation is that SMU transfer [autotag]Branson Hickman[/autotag] will be the starter for 2024. However, as he continues to get acclimated to the offense, 2022 four-star center signee [autotag]Joshua Bates[/autotag] has been getting a lot of snaps with the first team.
Bates has impressed Brent Venables with his work ethic and how he’s improved since arriving in Norman in Spring of 2022.
“(Bates) has been much more consistent, No. 1, with his snaps,” Venables said after practice. “He’s been a lot cleaner that way. Again, he’s a guy that helps make everyone around him better. Because he loves to compete, he loves football. Again, I got a small Rolodex of guys that I could say the same thing about.
“But I just love guys that love to come to work every day. They love their brothers, they love the environment, they love to go to practice, they love to work, they love to compete. They know how to strain. They’re just great examples. And that’s why you’re seeing him improve and get better, but he’s also had a really strong impact with the guys around him and in the locker room.”
Bates sat behind [autotag]Andrew Raym[/autotag] and [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag] the last two seasons, learning and honing his craft. Though Oklahoma went the transfer route to add the experienced Hickman, Bates has put in the work to create an opportunity for himself. Even if he’s not a starter for [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag]’s offensive line, Bates has positioned himself to be the frontrunner to start in 2025.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.