One of the brightest spots on the recruiting trail over the last few years has been the emergence of running backs coach DeMarco Murray as one of the best recruiters in college football. In the wake of the coaching change at OU, several players made it clear they were planning on staying with Oklahoma as long as DeMarco Murray was with OU.
Two of those players are 2022 signees Gavin Sawchuk and Jovantae Barnes, two highly-ranked running backs and players that could have an immediate impact as freshmen. Recruits weren’t the only ones to take notice, though.
Jovantae Barnes on DeMarco Murray's role in his recruitment. 🔥
"He was just like me, a West Coast kid. His top two schools was USC and OU, and he ended up choosing OU. I know there's something special over there to make him choose it."#OUDNA | #ChampU22 pic.twitter.com/tbTji6W4iF
— 𝕆𝕂𝕃𝔸ℍ𝕆𝕄𝔸-𝕍𝕊-𝕋ℍ𝔼 𝕎𝕆ℝ𝕃𝔻 (@soonergridiron) January 2, 2022
ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren put out a list of the best schools at recruiting each position on offense (ESPN+). The Sooners made his list as the best at recruiting running backs, according to VanHaaren.
Gavin Sawchuk is the No. 60 recruit overall and the fourth-best running back in the class out of Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He’s joined by Jovantae Barnes, who is ranked No. 93 overall and as the No. 7 running back. He’s a 5-11, 185-pound back out of Las Vegas, and both should be able to provide some impact in 2022. – VanHaaren, ESPN
Due to Murray’s success in the NFL and his abilities as a college coach and recruiter, he’s opened access to the western half of the United States, particularly Las Vegas, for the Sooners.
Just wanted to say thank you for all of the birthday wishes yesterday. It ended with a great night with @DeMarcoMurray. I told him that I am still, and always will be 100% committed to The University of Oklahoma. #ChampU22
-BOOMER MOTHER F**KING SOONER pic.twitter.com/Kg3gYzUsQs
— Jake Taylor (@JakeTaylor_79) December 3, 2021
Barnes and fellow 2022 signee Jake Taylor hail from Murray’s hometown in Nevada. 2023 four-star wide receiver DeAndre Moore, who recently withdrew his commitment, was originally from Vegas before moving to Los Alamitos to play with Malachi Nelson and Makai Lemon.
The Sooners lost Moore’s commitment through no fault of Murray’s as Moore relayed a lack of communication from the new coaching staff as part of why he reopened his commitment.
With Barnes and Sawchuk, the Sooners landed two of the top 10 running backs in the country, setting them up for the next several years at the position. But as long as DeMarco Murray is in Norman, Oklahoma will remain at the top of the sport recruiting the running back position for a very long time.
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