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SEC media days is in the books, which means fall camp is right around the corner and the start of the 2026 college football season will be here before we know it. The Oklahoma Sooners are looking to build on their College Football Playoff appearance a year ago with a roster that looks ready to make another run to the postseason. Perhaps despite being voted to finish seventh in the SEC.
For Oklahoma to do that, it's going to take an improved performance from the Sooners' offensive line, particularly in the running game. But according to quarterback John Mateer, they've been doing the right things to take the next step in their development.
They love being around each other," Mateer said. "But obviously the weight room, and they stay after it more than anybody. I see it, and I obviously love seeing it, but they're getting on each other like -- the standard has been raised."
The offensive line looked really good in the spring game, helping the Sooners establish the run, hopefully providing a sign of what's to come in 2026. But it's been because of the work they've put in. And perhaps nobody has put in more work this offseason than offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis.
"I think when you look at Eddy, you see his investment in the team and his improvement year to year," Mateer said last week at SEC media days. "He really sets the tone every day. He's going to go hit somebody, and you need that on the O line. You need somebody -- if he's going to hit somebody, you should too."
Pierre-Louis made a name early in his Oklahoma career for his aggressiveness and physicality, first getting 65 snaps in his true freshman season in 2024 before becoming a full-time starter midway through the 2025 season. Getting to represent the Sooners at SEC media days, Pierre-Louis has proven to put in the work that it takes to build on his first opportunity to be a starter for the Oklahoma offensive line.
"I see his truck -- he has a pretty unique truck. But it's always at the facility," Mateer said. "It's always there. It kind of bothers me that he's there and I'm leaving. You know? Not to say that I'm not in there often. But he's in there even more."
Pierre-Louis was quick to make it known that Mateer was in the building a lot as well.
"I've been spending a lot of time in the building, but John has as well," Pierre-Louis told me for Locked On Sooners. "He spends a lot of time in the facility. But I have spent a lot of time in the facility working on myself, working on my craft, trying to not ever perfect, because you can never perfect your craft.
"So just taking those little steps, working on my craft each and every day, trying to better myself to help out my team and become a better person for me to help and be a leader."
His attendance at SEC media days wasn't simply because the Tampa native had an opportunity to go home. But Eddy Pierre-Louis put in the work this offseason and represented an offensive line that's been working overtime to be the tip of the spear for the Oklahoma Sooners offense in 2026. If Pierre-Louis attacked the offseason like he attacks opposing defenders, we're about to see the Sooners' offensive line level up this season.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Why Oklahoma's offensive lline could break out in 2026
Continue reading...
For Oklahoma to do that, it's going to take an improved performance from the Sooners' offensive line, particularly in the running game. But according to quarterback John Mateer, they've been doing the right things to take the next step in their development.
They love being around each other," Mateer said. "But obviously the weight room, and they stay after it more than anybody. I see it, and I obviously love seeing it, but they're getting on each other like -- the standard has been raised."
The offensive line looked really good in the spring game, helping the Sooners establish the run, hopefully providing a sign of what's to come in 2026. But it's been because of the work they've put in. And perhaps nobody has put in more work this offseason than offensive lineman Eddy Pierre-Louis.
"I think when you look at Eddy, you see his investment in the team and his improvement year to year," Mateer said last week at SEC media days. "He really sets the tone every day. He's going to go hit somebody, and you need that on the O line. You need somebody -- if he's going to hit somebody, you should too."
Pierre-Louis made a name early in his Oklahoma career for his aggressiveness and physicality, first getting 65 snaps in his true freshman season in 2024 before becoming a full-time starter midway through the 2025 season. Getting to represent the Sooners at SEC media days, Pierre-Louis has proven to put in the work that it takes to build on his first opportunity to be a starter for the Oklahoma offensive line.
"I see his truck -- he has a pretty unique truck. But it's always at the facility," Mateer said. "It's always there. It kind of bothers me that he's there and I'm leaving. You know? Not to say that I'm not in there often. But he's in there even more."
Pierre-Louis was quick to make it known that Mateer was in the building a lot as well.
"I've been spending a lot of time in the building, but John has as well," Pierre-Louis told me for Locked On Sooners. "He spends a lot of time in the facility. But I have spent a lot of time in the facility working on myself, working on my craft, trying to not ever perfect, because you can never perfect your craft.
"So just taking those little steps, working on my craft each and every day, trying to better myself to help out my team and become a better person for me to help and be a leader."
His attendance at SEC media days wasn't simply because the Tampa native had an opportunity to go home. But Eddy Pierre-Louis put in the work this offseason and represented an offensive line that's been working overtime to be the tip of the spear for the Oklahoma Sooners offense in 2026. If Pierre-Louis attacked the offseason like he attacks opposing defenders, we're about to see the Sooners' offensive line level up this season.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Why Oklahoma's offensive lline could break out in 2026
Continue reading...
