What Oklahoma Gets in OT Michael Tarquin.

Oklahoma clearly sought experience in its offseason offensive line rebuild.

Bill Bedenbaugh will return just one piece, tackle Jacob Sexton, off the unit that started the Sooners’ regular season finale against TCU, as the offensive line was ravaged by graduation, draft exits and transfers.

OU’s first commitment of the offseason came from veteran Michigan State right tackle Spencer Brown, but Bedenbaugh did not stop there in bolstering the tackle ranks.

He also added Michael Tarquin, who has three years of starting experience at Florida and USC.

Tarquin, who grew up just down the road from Florida’s campus in Ocala, FL, played for the Gators from 2019 to 2022.

During his time in Gainesville, he made 10 starts and 34 overall appearances.

Tarquin made his first career start against Vanderbilt in 2021, one of two games he started that year, before starting eight more in 2022.

“(Tarquin) dealt with some early-season injuries (in 2022),” AllGator Brandon Carroll told AllSooners. ” … But he definitely worked a rotation and was much more comfortable at right tackle.”

As a redshirt sophomore, he alternated between right and left tackle in 2021 before settling in on the right side of the line in 2022.

According to Pro Football Focus, Tarquin had a 68.4 run blocking grade and an 82.3 pass blocking grade in 2022, allowing no sacks and only five quarterback pressures.

Tarquin also played an important role off the field in 2022, as the Gators reset their program under new head coach Billy Napier.

“He was a leader,” Carroll explained. “They praised him for that when Billy Napierand staff first got in. (Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach) Rob Sale actually said during the offseason before that 2022 year that he wishes he could get 20 Michael Tarquins. He said that he was just a guy that they kind of leaned on throughout the offseason.”

Tarquin’s voice wasn’t always at the forefront of conversations, Carroll said, but he earned the respect of Florida’s offensive line.

“He’s definitely a silent leader,” Carroll said. “I think he leads a lot by example. You’re not really going to hear him much, but I think it’s one of those things where when he does talk, the guys around him listen.”

The season did not go as planned, with the Gators finishing 6-7, and Tarquin’s decision to transfer was unexpected by those in Gainesville.

“He was a surprise portal entry when he left,” Carroll said. “He really was the only shocking one because they regarded him so highly off the field, which is why they also contacted him when he hit the portal again this offseason.”

Tarquin eventually joined Lincoln Riley at USC, where he will work under offensive line coach Josh Henson in 2023.

Tarquin was reportedly deployed at left tackle during spring practice, but the decision was made headed into fall camp that he would slide back over to the right side of the line for the Trojans.

He started the first seven games, but was part of an offensive line shakeup after USC’s loss to Notre Dame.

Tarquin replaced an injured Jarrett Kingston in the regular season finale against UCLA, bringing his time in Los Angeles to an end.

Tarquin played 332 snaps at USC last year, finishing with a 58.9 run blocking grade and a 59.0 pass blocking grade, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jerry Schmidt’s strength program at Oklahoma is vastly different from Bennie Wylie’s at USC, and Tarquin’s offseason work in Norman should bring him closer to his form at Florida, where he stood up to the physicality of the SEC.

“He wasn’t a liability,” Carroll explained. “ … He was consistent across all competition. He’d have his moments where he was better than others. … He was kind of giving the same thing every week.”

If Sexton returns to left tackle, as he did in the Alamo Bowl, Tarquin can compete with Brown to protect Jackson Arnold’s right side while leading a young offensive line through the SEC’s week-to-week grind.

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