3-Star offensive lineman Owen Hollenbeck signs with the Oklahoma Sooners

Three-star offensive lineman Owen Hollenbeck signs with the Oklahoma Sooners during the early signing period.

The Oklahoma Sooners have added to their offensive line ranks on the first day of the [autotag]early signing period[/autotag], earning a signature from three-star interior offensive line prospect [autotag]Owen Hollenbeck[/autotag].

Hollenbeck is out of Melissa, Texas, and has the size and demeanor to be an impact player for the Oklahoma Sooners offensive line. He projects as a center and will use what he’s learned on the wrestling mat to control players on the interior.

He’s a player that isn’t looking to simply block players, Hollenbeck plays with violence, working to put his assignment on the ground in the run and pass game.

Hollenbeck chose the Sooners over offers from Arkansas, Florida, SMU, and Texas A&M.

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Rating

Stars Overall Position State
ESPN 3 65 190
Rivals 3 37
247Sports 3 140 271
247 Composite 3 1284 100 198
On3 Recruiting 3 110 215
On3 Industry 3 1263 108 187

Vitals

Hometown Melissa, Texas
Projected Position Interior OL
Height 6-2.5
Weight 315 pounds

 

2025 Oklahoma Sooners commitment tracker

Oklahoma Sooners 2025 commitment tracker

The Oklahoma Sooners are off to a much faster start in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] than in 2024. In fact, [autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag] committed to the 2025 class (March 13, 2023) before OU had received its first commitment for the 2024 class: [autotag]Jeremiah Newcombe[/autotag] (March 25, 2023).

The Sooners have put together another phenomenal class but the centerpiece came when five-star offensive tackle Michael Fasusi committed to the Sooners on Wednesday. That gave Oklahoma their third straight recruiting class with at least one five-star prospect and their fifth in the last three years.

Additionally, it provided another elite piece for the Sooners to work with in the trenches after adding [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag] in 2023 and [autotag]David Stone[/autotag] in 2024 on the defensive side of the ball. Now, Bill Bedenbaugh has his cornerstone of the future on the offensive side of the ball. The Sooners have been working overtime to strengthen their talent along the line of scrimmage.

Now with Fasusi committed, the Sooners turn their attention to [autotag]Andrew Babalola[/autotag], [autotag]Christian Jones[/autotag], and [autotag]Jonah Williams[/autotag], their final big-time targets in the 2025 cycle. Babalola is said to be down to Michigan, Stanford, and Oklahoma. Jones is leaning toward Nebraska but likely won’t commit until the fall. Williams was once a heavy Oklahoma lean, but his recruitment has broadened over the last six months to include LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, and Oregon. There could also be a surprise addition or flip over the next few months ahead of the early signing period.

Here are the players committed to the Oklahoma Sooners’ [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

Updated: August 21, 2024

Consensus 2025 five-star OT Michael Fasusi picks Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma earns a commitment from 2025 five-star offensive tackle Michael Fasusi.

Oklahoma has its big fish for the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

Since Brent Venables took over, five-star prospects [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], [autotag]Adepoju Adebawore[/autotag], Peyton Bowen and David Stone highlighted their recruiting classes. For 2025, it’s [autotag]Michael Fasusi[/autotag].

Fasusi is a five-star offensive tackle prospect from Texas who hails from the same high school that produced Sooners four-star defensive back Jaydan Hardy last year. Lewisville High School, located just under 45 minutes from Dallas, has been kind to the Sooners in recent years, and on Tuesday, the Sooners reaped the benefits again.

Fasusi’s recruitment has been national since he was a sophomore when it was apparent he was heading for five-star status. The Sooners offered Fasusi in January 2023, and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh has been relentless in his efforts to land Fasusi. Even with the rise of other highly sought offensive tackle prospects in this class, Bedenbuagh and OU remained in hot pursuit.

Their relationship was an integral part of the Sooners winning out.  Bedenbaugh’s track record is second to none in developing talent along the offensive line.

 

Fasusi is an incredible asset to the Sooners, and beating out Texas and Texas A&M is nothing to scoff at. Texas has been a major player in this recruitment, and at times this year, it felt as if the Sooners were in second place. Oklahoma weathered the highs and lows of the recruitment and advances from other challengers.

In April, predictions heavily favored the Texas Longhorns, but over the last week, insiders that cover the Longhorns began to flip their predictions to the Sooners. National recruiting figures such as Tom Loy, Matt Zenitz and Steve Wiltfong reinforced the shift.

Kyle Flood is a well-respected name in offensive line recruiting, so beating him and Texas, especially with Texas’ recruiting ability on the offensive line of late, is worthy of even more praise for Bedenbaugh and the Sooners as the dust settles.

On the field, Fasusi is a dynamic prospect. Gabe Brooks, a scouting analyst for 247Sports, compared Fasusi to a former Sooner.

Gifted O-lineman with true book-end tackle potential. Possesses excellent physical tools and promising athletic context in track and field and combine testing categories. Legitimately 6-foot-5 with long arms and a big reach. Wears mass well and owns space to add more bulk. Multi-sport athlete with 50+ shot put and 150+ discus prowess. Grew up playing soccer and is young for the 2025 cycle. Similarly explosive metrics in vertical and broad jump relative to OT projection. Shows foot quickness and agility to live on an island in pass protection. Nimbleness translates to movement ability in the run game. Flashes some punch power that should become more consistent with continued development. Improved phone-booth strength from sophomore to junior year. Length and athleticism help in recovery vs. twitchy edge speed, but will need to continue technical development to match P4-caliber foes at point of attack. Somewhat high-cut build and plays upright at times. Getting more comfortable as a convicted block-finishing presence, but can still unleash more mean streak. Entering senior year, looks like one of the nation’s top 2025 offensive tackle prospects. Projects as a high-major multi-year starter with physical and athletic specs that suggest early-round NFL Draft upside. – Brooks, 247Sports

As for the Sooner, Brooks had in mind as a comparison for Fasusi? Wanya Morris. Morris transferred to Oklahoma and spent two years as a Sooner before being drafted last year by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he is a starter on the back-to-back defending Super Bowl champs alongside another Bedenbaugh product, All-Pro center Creed Humphrey.

Oklahoma had to land Fasusi after missing on [autotag]Lamont Rogers[/autotag] and [autotag]Ty Haywood[/autotag] and trailing in the race for [autotag]Andrew Babalola[/autotag]. It was a non-negotiable as all four prospects were top 100 players.

Fortunately, the Sooners have their left tackle for the future. Pairing him with the fast-rising Ryan Fodje, an ascending player over the last year, as well as interior offensive linemen [autotag]Darius Afalava[/autotag] and [autotag]Owen Hollenbeck[/autotag] makes for an even stronger offensive line recruiting class. The Sooners are well positioned to keep [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag], [autotag]Michael Hawkins[/autotag], [autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag] and [autotag]Jaden O’Neal[/autotag] upright as the Sooners settle in as SEC members in the coming years.

With Fasusi on board, the Sooners vaulted from 11th in 247Sports team recruiting rankings to eighth, right behind Texas A&M. Fasusi becomes the first five-star offensive lineman in Norman since [autotag]Brey Walker[/autotag].

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5-star offensive tackle includes Oklahoma Sooners in Top 3

The Oklahoma Sooners were included in five-star offensive tackle Ty Haywood’s top 3.

Offensive line recruiting is the biggest storyline across the country in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag]. The Sooners are in the mix for a number of blue-chip offensive linemen, hoping to add to their group up front that includes four-star offensive lineman [autotag]Ryan Fodje[/autotag] and three-star prospect [autotag]Owen Hollenbeck[/autotag].

Though it looks like he’s been trending away from the Sooners, five-star offensive tackle [autotag]Ty Haywood[/autotag] included Oklahoma in his top three schools as his recruitment roars on. The Sooners were included alongside Alabama and Florida State.

There was a time the Sooners were considered the favorite before Texas A&M made a strong push, and more recently, the Alabama Crimson Tide.

SoonerScoop and On3’s Josh McCuistion put in an On3 prediction favoring the Crimson Tide. Haywood is considered the No. 2 offensive tackle in the On3 industry rankings and the No. 9 overall prospect.

At the moment, it may look like Haywood is trending away, but don’t count the Sooners out just yet. They’ve recruited really well over the course of Brent Venables’ tenure at Oklahoma.

Even if they can’t land a commitment from Haywood, the Sooners are still very much in the mix for five-star prospects [autotag]Michael Fasusi[/autotag] and [autotag]Andrew Babalola[/autotag], four-star tackle [autotag]Lamont Rogers[/autotag], and Rivals four-star prospect [autotag]Darius Afalava[/autotag].

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Sooners make top 4 for 2025 4-star OL Darius Afalava

After hosting him on his official visit, the Oklahoma Sooners make top four for Rivals four-star offensive lineman Darius Afalava.

Much like defensive line recruiting did for the 2024 cycle, offensive line is taking center stage for the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag]. The Oklahoma Sooners currently have two offensive linemen committed to the class, offensive tackle [autotag]Ryan Fodje[/autotag] and interior offensive line prospect [autotag]Owen Hollenbeck[/autotag].

As the Sooners continue to press for some of the five-star prospects in the class, they have also zeroed in on Rivals four-star prospect [autotag]Darius Afalava[/autotag]. Afalava is considered the top player in the state of Utah by Rivals and the No. 25 interior offensive line prospect. ESPN has Afalava ranked as the No. 19 player at his position.

On Wednesday, the Lehi, Utah native included the Oklahoma Sooners in his top four along with the Utah Utes, Michigan State Spartans, and Washington Huskies.

He has 24 offers with notable programs like Michigan, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, UCLA, Oregon, Stanford, Ole Miss, Nebraska, and LSU pursuing Afalava as well.

Afalava is 6-foot-5 and according to On3, weighs 280 pounds. He recently spent time with the Oklahoma Sooners on his official visit and left with a positive impression of [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] program.

The Oklahoma Sooners are in a great spot in their pursuit of Afalava, who would provide another strong and athletic interior offensive line prospect for [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] to work with.

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Sooners pick up On3 prediction for underrated in-state offensive line prospect

After a successful spring game weekend, the Oklahoma Sooners picked up an On3 prediction for the underrated Antoni Ogumoro.

The Oklahoma Sooners have made significant progress for the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag]. One area where the Sooners are thriving on the recruiting trail is along the offensive line. They hold commitments from [autotag]Owen Hollenbeck[/autotag] and [autotag]Ryan Fodje[/autotag] and have put themselves in strong standing with blue-chip prospects like [autotag]Ty Haywood[/autotag] and [autotag]Michael Fasusi[/autotag].

The Sooners have also moved the needle for one of the more under-the-radar prospects in the 2025 class, [autotag]Antoni Ogumoro[/autotag]. After spending time with the Sooners at the Oklahoma spring game, Josh McCuistion of SoonerScoop and On3 issued an On3 prediction favoring the Sooners.

Ogumoro is considered a three-star prospect by Rivals and On3 but has the potential to end up much higher in the 2025 recruiting rankings. On3 considers Ogumoro the No. 10 player in the state of Oklahoma and a top 25 interior offensive line prospect in the country.

The Elgin, Okla. product hasn’t been playing offensive line for very long, but he has all the tools to be a fantastic offensive lineman at the collegiate level.

Here’s what I had to say about Antoni Ogumoro back in March.

Omugoro is a legit athlete with the quickness and agility to be a star at the collegiate level. He moves well for someone 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds. A basketball player as well for Elgin, he’s also a physical offensive lineman at the point of attack.

Ogumoro shouldn’t be able to move the way he does at his size, but he’s fluid, athletic, and displays good footwork. His skills on the basketball court have translated better to the offensive line than they did to the defensive front, where he started out as a football player.

Don’t let the ranking or star status fool you. Ogumoro is a player. By the end of the cycle, he should be in blue-chip territory.

Ogumoro has set a commitment date for May 21, 2024. He holds offers from Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Kansas State, UNC, TCU, Virginia Tech, Duke, Cincinnati, and Iowa State.

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Sooners an early SEC winner in the 2025 recruiting class

The Oklahoma Sooners are one of the early winners in the 2025 recruiting cycle.

Brent Venables and his coaching staff can recruit. They’ve put together top 10 classes in each of their first national signing days in Norman. That includes the 2022 class, when they only had a couple of months to recover the class after Lincoln Riley left.

And they’re already off to a fantastic start to the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag]. According to College Sports Wire, the Oklahoma Sooners are one of the early winners out of the SEC in the 2025 cycle.

New to the SEC, Oklahoma currently holds nine commitments in their 2025 recruiting class to rank No. 6 in the nation, as well as second in the conference. Headlining that group is a trio of Top 200 prospects [autotag]Elijah Thomas[/autotag], [autotag]Ryan Fodje[/autotag], and [autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag], the first of which is one of the top players in the state of Oklahoma. – Mett Melton, College Sports Wire

Sperry made noise when he jumped the 2024 recruiting class with his March 2023 commitment. He’s been locked in since and helping Oklahoma recruit. The four-star prospect is a talented passer who could ascend to five-star status by the end of the cycle.

Wide receiver is a strength of this recruiting cycle. Emmett Jones has commitments from talented four-star prospects Elijah Thomas and  [autotag]Trynae Washington[/autotag], and three-star receiver [autotag]Gracen Harris[/autotag]. It’s a dynamic group with big-time playmaking ability. As Jones has shown us in his time with the Sooners, he’ll continue to recruit to add talent to the wide receiver group.

The Sooners 2025 recruiting class got a big boost from the addition of Ryan Fodje. They were ahead of the curve on Fodje, who’s gone from being largely unknown in recruiting circles to a top-100 prospect in the cycle. Fodje joins [autotag]Owen Hollenbeck[/autotag], who a lot of people believe will be a standout interior offensive lineman.

And they’re still in the mix for several five-star offensive tackles. Oklahoma’s been projected to land [autotag]Ty Haywood[/autotag], and many feel they’re in a good position for [autotag]Michael Fasusi[/autotag]. They also have moved the needle for [autotag]Antoni Omugoro[/autotag], an athletic offensive line prospect from Elk City.

Offensive line could end up having the star power that the defensive line had for the 2024 class.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Sooners are on track to land their fourth five-star prospect since Venables’ arrival if the projections for five-star safety [autotag]Jonah Williams[/autotag] hold up.

With less than a year to go in the 2025 recruiting cycle, the Sooners have positioned themselves to have another strong group of prospects joining the program next year.

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Oklahoma Sooners earn commitment from 3-Star OT Ryan Fodje

The Oklahoma Sooners picked up their 10th commitment in the 2025 recruiting cycle with a pledge from offensive tackle Ryan Fodje.

The Oklahoma Sooners hot start in the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag] continued Sunday morning with a commitment from offensive tackle [autotag]Ryan Fodje[/autotag].

Fodje is currently considered a three-star prospect according to 247Sports and On3 but has received a lot of buzz in recent months, picking up a number of high-profile offers.

In addition to the Sooners’ offer, Fodje holds offers from Texas, Texas A&M, Oregon, Nebraska, Missouri, Tennessee, and USC. He’s considered a top 30 offensive tackle prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle but could see his stock rise.

Last summer, Fodje spent time with the Sooners at Brent Venables Football Camp and earned an offer from Oklahoma in August. That August 26 offer from OU was his first, but over the last four months picked up 18 more offers. In the last couple of weeks, he received offers from Texas, Oklahoma State, and Oregon among others. He even spent time at Texas’ Junior Day on January 20.

The commitment marks the Sooners 10th in the [autotag]2025 recruiting cycle[/autotag] and second offensive line commitment, joining [autotag]Owen Hollenbeck[/autotag] from Melissa, Texas.

Fodje moves very well with his 6-foot-5, 275-pound frame. He has a nice first step in pass protection and uses his length well. As a run blocker, Fodje is a physical player. Once he engages his defender, he doesn’t disengage until the opponent is on the ground or the play is over. He does a great job driving his feet and blocking through the whistle. He’s a natural athlete who has all the tools to make a huge impact at the University of Oklahoma.

More: Oklahoma Sooners 2025 commitment tracker.

Ryan Fodje’s Recruiting Profile

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Oklahoma to host talented 2025 prospects for first Junior Day of new recruiting cycle

Oklahoma is hosting their first Junior Day for the Class of 2025. We’ve compiled a list of the expected or confirmed attendees.

Oklahoma’s recruiting has been borderline elite since Brent Venables took over as Norman’s head man. The three recruiting classes have been well-balanced from top to bottom. As the 2024 class begins to acclimate themselves as student-athletes on campus this month, the staff has pressed on and is looking ahead to the [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

The 2025 class is a switch-up from the previous classes. If nothing else because the Sooners have a slew of commits already in the boat for 2025. In the last few years, Oklahoma has exploded onto the scene in the summer. Some early lifting and the byproduct of terrific relationships built over the last few years have already paid dividends for this staff. The Sooners already have nine commits for 2025.

Oklahoma will host its first Junior Day of the year Saturday in Norman, and we’ve done our best to compile a list of the names confirmed or expected to be in the building.

[autotag]Elijah Thomas[/autotag] – four-star WR – OU Commit

[autotag]Owen Hollenbeck[/autotag] – four-star IOL  – OU Commit

[autotag]Kevin Sperry[/autotag] – four-star QB – OU Commit

[autotag]Ka’Mori Moore[/autotag] –three-star DT  – OU Commit

[autotag]Caleb Cunningham[/autotag] – five-star WR

Emmanuel Choice – three-star WR

Kole Briehler – three-star DL

Demarius Robinson – RB

Max Granville – four-star EDGE

[autotag]Cobey Sellers[/autotag] – four-star CB

Deyjhon Pettaway – four-star CB

[autotag]Trystan Haynes[/autotag] – four-star CB

Omarion Robinson – four-star S

[autotag]Landon Rink[/autotag] – four-star DL

[autotag]Jonah Williams[/autotag] – five-star LB/S

Tory Blaylock – four-star RB

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Oklahoma Sooners earn commitment from 2025 OL Owen Hollenbeck

The Oklahoma Sooners picked up their ninth commitment in the 2025 recruiting cycle, earning a pledge from 3-Star OL Owen Hollenbeck.

The Oklahoma Sooners earned their first offensive line commitment of the 2025 recruiting cycle in Melissa interior offensive lineman Owen Hollenbeck.

Hollenbeck is currently considered a three-star prospect and the No. 50 interior offenisve lineman in the 2025 cycle, according to On3. As a junior in high school, Hollenbeck stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 295 pounds.

When you turn on the highlights, he displays good athleticism at his right guard spot. He’s a strong guy that looks to put his opponent in the ground.

Hollenbeck chose the Sooners over offers from Arkansas, Florida, SMU, and Texas A&M.

He’s the second commitment the Sooners have received from Melissa High School in Texas after picking up a pledge from 2024 defensive lineman [autotag]Nigel Smith[/autotag]. Hollenbeck is the ninth commitment in Oklahoma’s 2025 recruiting class.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.