Tumultuous. That’s it. That’s the one word that can be used to describe Oklahoma’s winter, spring, and summer in the running back room.
Following the Oklahoma Sooners’ thrashing of the Florida Gators in the Cotton Bowl, head coach Lincoln Riley and running backs coach DeMarco Murray thought they would head into this season with a stable of some really great running backs. Flash forward to now and things did not pan out remotely close to how they envisioned them.
We documented those troubles in detail right here. However, we are here to discuss the running backs of this season. More specifically, the two guys on the team that aren’t on scholarship, who will play a vital role going forward.
Jaden Knowles and Todd Hudson round out a paper-thin running back room as they back up Kennedy Brooks and Eric Gray. Gray and Brooks are the featured guys, and for good reason, but where do Knowles and Hudson fit in?
Both are walk-ons and got their chance to show something in meaningful game action in the Sooners dismantling of Western Carolina University. Knowles, a redshirt junior had four carries for 37 yards and two rushing touchdowns and added two catches for 67 yards to close out a pretty productive night. Hudson, a redshirt sophomore was able to tote the rock nine times for 25 yards and two touchdowns.
Obviously, the competition wasn’t the toughest but a key component to being a running back is holding on to the ball. Knowles and Hudson did that on Saturday.
Barring injury, it’s hard to envision a time where either see the field with a game still in doubt. Riley and Murray will ride the wheels of Gray and Brooks until the wheels fall off. They have to. They offer things that Knowles and Hudson don’t. Most notably in size, speed, and big-game experience. However, there’s reason to believe if one of the main two goes down, Riley and Murray will probably have a little bit more confidence in one of the walk-ons stepping into a significant role. They almost have to. They know the plays, the responsibilities and it’s easier to plug them in on the fly as opposed to try and shift the position of a wide receiver and turn them into a running back in the middle of a game week.
Is the verdict a yes or no? There’s just not enough evidence to accurately give a definitive answer. Knowles and Hudson gave their coaches something to think about and that’s much more than either envisioned coming into the season. Only time will tell when or if they will actually be called upon in a significant moment or game.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
Stream college football games from the SEC, Big 12, The American, and more on ESPN+