Oklahoma freshman Michael Fasusi is earning some early recognition.
Fasusi, the 5-star prospect and cornerstone piece of the Sooners' 2025 class, was selected among the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Watchlist on Tuesday. Fasusi was among 37 candidates for the award. Of those, just 27 are true freshmen, and only eight play on the offensive line. The award is a fairly new one, beginning in 2018. The award is presented to the College Freshman Player of the Year and is named in honor of Shaun Alexander, a former Alabama running back and 2005 NFL MVP with the Seattle Seahawks.
Fasusi is a 6-foot-5, 309-pound, true freshman. He has continued to impress Oklahoma offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh throughout camp and has steadily seen his opportunities rise. Fasusi was listed as a possible starting left tackle on Oklahoma Week 1 depth chart for the matchup against Illinois State. Senior Jacob Sexton and junior Luke Baklenko are the other possible options. Fasusi was one of just 11 freshmen to appear on the Sooners' depth chart. 247Sports rated Fasusi out of high as the No. 8 overall prospect in the class and the No. 1 offensive tackle. He hails from Lewisville (TX) High School.
"It's all just going to come down to my mental toughness, and if anything, that's what I'm focused on most," Fasusi said. "Just working, working, working. Not being scared of anything. Not being scared of anybody. That's what it's going to come down to. Coach B talks a lot about that. Mental strength, mental toughness. He also talks about just straining, being in the pass, being in the run, straining and finishing every single thing. I think that's what I'm really big on right now."
(Photo: JAMES D. JACKSON, 247Sports)
The freshman is among 12 SEC players on the Shaun Alexander Award watch list. The others include two players from Alabama (cornerback Dijon Lee and offensive guard Michael Carroll), two from LSU (cornerback D.J. Pickett and running back Harlem Berry) and two from Texas (wide receiver Kaliq Lockett and defensive end Justus Terry). Non-SEC programs Oregon, Ohio State and Clemson also have two freshmen on the watch list.
With a short history, the Sooners have yet to have a recipient of the award. The past winners include Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) - 2018, Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis)-2019, Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) – 2020, Brock Bowers (Georgia) – 2021, Drake Maye (North Carolina) 2022, Caleb Downs (Alabama) – 2023, and Colin Simmons (Texas) – 2024.
Fasusi now has the opportunity to be the first after learning a lot of new things throughout spring and fall camp.
"Really just been focusing getting my hands, my eyes and my feet, just doing what I'm coached to do" Fasusi said. "Just mastering my craft that's really just been the biggest thing. Getting smarter as a football player, looking around the field, seeing the backer, seeing the safety, knowing what the defense is going to do. So just things like that. Again, mastering my craft."