TAMPA, Fla. – Eddy Pierre-Louis may not have known much about the team he was watching. What mattered is what he saw when watching the Bob Stoops-coached Oklahoma Sooners with their crimson and cream uniforms and shiny helmets glowing through the television screen.
“Oklahoma was my dream school since I was a kid,” he recalled as he sat on the dais Monday morning during SEC Media Days at the Marriott Water Street. “I saw them on TV and that red just lit up to me. I saw the passion that they had when they were playing the games. So, that was something that I wanted to be a part of, and I just kept working for it.”
His work paid off. The product of Tampa Catholic played in all 13 games and made six starts at left guard for Brent Venables’ team last season as a redshirt freshman. Pierre-Louis (pronounced pee-Air loo-Wee) played four games in 2024, his first season in Norman, and retained a redshirt. To come home and represent his team at SEC Media Days, which are being held in Tampa for the first time, is meaningful.
“This is great, being back in my hometown of Tampa, Florida,” he said, beaming. “I was able to see my mom earlier, so that was a blessing. It is quite an honor, for sure, to represent my squad and also represent Oklahoma.”
Baker Mayfield would likely approve. Ironically, it was the Buccaneers’ quarterback who was running the OU offense when Pierre-Louis became hooked on the team he could not get enough of.
“He has good passion, good energy,” he said of Mayfield. “That’s something that (current OU quarterback) John Mateer has as well. Me, and especially my offensive line group, that has us ready to go run right through a wall for him. Him coming out with good passion, energy, juice, each and every day is just something that you need, what you want in your quarterback.”
Mateer appreciates what Pierre-Louis brings to the program.
“When you look at Eddy, you see his investment in the team and his improvement year to year,” said the redshirt senior, who threw for 2,885 yards and 14 touchdowns last season after transferring from Washington State. “He really sets the tone every day. He is going to hit somebody and you need that on the O-line. He’s a great dude and I can hang around him all day.”
Pierre-Louis credited, among others, his former Tampa Catholic head coach, Jeris McIntyre, as someone who was instrumental in getting him to where he is today. McIntyre is currently on Alex Golesh’s staff at Auburn, where he was a receiver and is serving as director of football and alumni relations.
“I had really good high school coaches and I also had good mentors, like my family,” said Pierre-Louis, who Rivals ranked as the country’s top-rated guard coming out of Tampa Catholic, where he also participated in track and field. “My mom is someone who mentored me since I was young, so having her with me is always something that I needed.”
Such help along the way has paid dividends in growing into a leader with the Sooners. Of course, like all young players coming out of high school and transitioning to the college game and college itself, it was not always like that.
“When I first (got to OU), I wasn’t very vocal,” he said. “I just led by example and willing to work each day and every day. That’s something I emphasize, just being there to work. Now, I am more vocal and talk a lot more to my guys. At first, it was definitely uncomfortable, but now I am getting to the point where I am more comfortable. It’s been good.”
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