The Oklahoma Sooners are in a familiar position at running back. They’re looking to find the guy that will replace last season’s leading rusher.
Two years ago, they were working to replace [autotag]Rhamondre Stevenson[/autotag]. Last spring, they were again looking for their lead running back after the departure of [autotag]Kennedy Brooks[/autotag].
They found answers each offseason. So there should be no concern. However, the question remains, who will be Oklahoma’s lead running back in 2023?
“I’m looking for a starter. That’s why we’re able to have the depth that we have here,” [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag] said after Tuesday’s practice.
The Oklahoma Sooners have a depth chart as deep as it has been during Murray’s time in Norman. Though young, it’s four deep with blue-chip running backs [autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag], [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag], [autotag]Gavin Sawchuck[/autotag], and [autotag]Daylan Smothers[/autotag]. Three-star runner [autotag]Kalib Hicks[/autotag] was probably one of the more underrated additions of the 2023 signing class after an incredible career at Denton Ryan.
The Sooners have talented running backs to work with. Barnes and Sawchuk entered the spring as the backs at the front of the line. The two had memorable Cheez-It Bowl performances, each rushing for over the 100-yard mark in the three-point loss to Florida State.
“Just speaking on those two guys (Barnes and Sawchuk), they’ve always had a terrific mindset,” Murray said about his returning running backs. “They’ve always had a great working habit. We’re fortunate to have them here. But we have to continue to learn and continue to grow and get stronger and get faster in all areas. I’m pleased with where they are now.”
With Major, Barnes, and Sawchuk, the Sooners have guys with some significant experience. It’s not in the same vein as Kennedy Brooks, who entered the 2021 season already with a pair of 1,000-yard seasons under his belt. At the same time, they have the experience they can build upon as Oklahoma looks for their next lead running back.
But what is Murray looking for at the running back position?
“Just a guy that you know can rely on every single day. A guy like Eric Gray, who was kind of our comfort blanket,” Murray shared on Tuesday. “No matter what happened out there, no matter what the situation was, two-minute, short-yardage, situation football, he was going to be there. He was going to get it done.”
The Sooners will deploy multiple running backs in Jeff Lebby’s up-tempo offense. Still, Oklahoma needs to find the guy they can role out there in every situation.
Gone are Eric Gray’s 246 touches. He’s going to make an NFL team happy as an incredible value selection in the middle rounds of the draft. So who will step up to replace that workload?
Barnes looks like the favorite to do so, but don’t count out the rest of the running back room as well. They’re a talented bunch that will be vying for snaps this spring and into fall camp.
“We’ve got a great group of backs who are competing for playing time and competing for that top spot. It’s been great to see and sit back and watch. They’ve got the right mindset, an extremely talented room but a close room. So for us, man, we’re as close as hell, but at the end of the day, we also compete when we step out on the field.”
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