Oklahoma OL Josh Aisosa Sees Immediate Opportunities, But Will 'Trust the Process'

NORMAN — When the Oklahoma football team reconvenes at the Switzer Center in January and the team begins the process of becoming Team 130, the Sooners will have five immediate openings along the offensive line.

Josh Aisosa is ready for that opportunity.

Two seniors will graduate, two have already opted out of the bowl game so they can train for the NFL Draft, and two others left via the NCAA Transfer Portal. A handful of other backups also have departed.

“I see that as a great thing,” Aisosa told AllSooners last week. “There’s an opportunity for me to play real early when things like that happen. I see it as a blessing, almost.”

Aisosa, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound offensive lineman from Santa Fe High School in Edmond, is one of five offensive linemen who signed with the Sooners last Wednesday and will soon begin the process of replacing Bill Bedenbaugh’s five starters.

“It’s sad to see people leave,” Aisosa said, “but it makes other opportunities for guys like me to end up on the field.”

Aisosa is enrolled for the spring semester and will compete for snaps in spring practice. First, he’ll spend two months in the weight room, burning in the freshman fires of strength coach Jerry Schmidt.

"One of the best linemen in the state," head coach Brent Venables said. "Just a fantastic player. He’s got size, athletic ability, great agility, he’s worked really hard at his game and his development."

As a freshman, the demanding styles of Bedenbaugh and Schmidt are just what Aisosa needs.

“Most definitely,” he said. “That’s what I signed up for.”

Among the goals he said for his freshman year was simply “trying to just get better in the weight room.” Schmit will handle that. He said he also wants to improve his technique and learn to play lower. Bedenbaugh will handle that.

It’s Aisosa’s relationship with Bedenbaugh that he has come to truly value as an invaluable asset.

“It’s been good knowing that our relationship has evolved over the past couple months, especially since recruiting has heated up and I was getting ready to make a decision,” Aisosa said. “We’ve gotten to know each other a lot more and we know what to expect out of each other and how we feel about each other. And he’s a great guy to be around and to know, and he’s definitely a mentor. I could see that he could definitely teach me a lot and he can help me get to where I want to be in the future.”

Aisosa had a definitive plan when he decided to enroll early and get his career underway early like so many of his 2024 classmates.

“I just kind of wanted a head start, you know, get in front of some of the other guys,” he said. “I want to end up playing this year, and that’s gonna help me out if I go earlier.”

Aisosa was a consensus 3-star prospect for the Wolves, the No. 46-ranked inside o-linemen in the country by On3 and No. 93 by 247 Sports. ESPN ranks him No. 62 among guards nationwide. He was named Class 6A-1 District Offensive Lineman of the Year even though he start playing tackle football until his sophomore year. Aisosa also wrestled in high school.

He picked OU over Iowa State, North Texas, Tulsa and others.

Recruiting was fun, but signing was better, he said.

“It feels good,” Aisosa said. “I always wanted this day to come and I’m definitely ready for it and really excited for what the future holds.”

Now,, he said, the key will be to have patience and not be in too much of a hurry for the future to arrive.

“No, patience is a big thing everyone needs — as a freshman especially,” he said. “You need to stay patient and stay the course and trust the process so things will end up better for you in the future.”

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