NORMAN — Oklahoma freshman offensive lineman Noah Best admitted he was nervous during the walk toward the field Friday night.
Then the football was snapped.
“Once I got that first snap off, it just felt like football to me,” Best said. “It felt natural.”
That response says almost everything about one of the most remarkable developments from Oklahoma’s 51-0 win over UTEP. Best became the first true freshman to start at center for the Sooners since 1992, according to Brent Venables, and helped direct an offense that scored on its first eight possessions.
The assignment was not ceremonial. UTEP pressured Oklahoma repeatedly and brought zero blitzes in an attempt to create confusion around a player who was playing high school football only a year ago.
Best handled it.
“Just his poise, composure—he snapped the ball well,” Venables said. “They pressured us a lot. They sent zero blitz a lot, and I thought he did a nice job. Everything starts—and he touches the ball every snap.”
Best’s path to the starting lineup helps explain why the moment did not overwhelm him. He worked at center during the spring, moved to left guard after Caleb Nitta’s setback, later shifted to right guard and then returned to center. Bill Bedenbaugh told him after spring practice that he needed to prepare to play multiple positions.
So he did.
The most difficult part, Best said, has been developing confidence in the calls that come with playing center. In high school, he did not carry the same responsibility. At Oklahoma, he must identify fronts, communicate adjustments and deliver a clean snap before completing his blocking assignment.
His answer has been technique and self-talk.
“I tell myself every play, ‘Hey, you’re going to do this,’ or, ‘You can do this,’” Best said. “My details, the techniques, that really builds confidence—knowing what to do, when to do it, how to do it.”
Best also pointed toward daily work against Oklahoma’s defensive line. Facing David Stone, Jayden Jackson and the rest of the Sooners’ interior throughout camp forced him to mature before an opponent could test him.
There will be corrections. Venables noted a couple of snaps were slightly off, and the challenge changes substantially next week at Michigan. The Big House will test communication in a way a home opener against UTEP could not.
But Oklahoma could not manufacture a better first step. Best was tested with pressure, managed the operation and helped the Sooners produce 401 yards with only one offensive penalty until the late stages.
One year after playing high school football, Oklahoma’s true freshman center looked like he belonged.
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