The Oklahoma Volunteers.
Lincoln Riley and his coaching staff have been active since the end of the 2020 season. The Sooners didn’t close as strong as they wanted to on the recruiting trail, signing just 16 to the 2021 recruiting class. Oklahoma, though, hit the transfer route hard.
The rumors swirled and got louder and louder that the Sooners were looking hard at the situation at Tennessee. Starting offensive tackle Wanya Morris was the first name, who has since announced he would be joining Oklahoma. Then it was Key Lawrence, a top-100 recruit in the 2020 recruiting class who the Sooners recruited. He eventually committed to Oklahoma, too.
Tennessee running back Eric Gray didn’t have those whispers, but the Sooners ended up still interested. He announced he would be heading to Oklahoma, too, on Wednesday night.
BOOMER!!! 🔴⚪️ #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/0bC9P4KPAl
— JUICE (@1ericgray) January 28, 2021
Gray was a four-star running back coming out of high school in the 2019 recruiting class. He was considered the No. 7 all-purpose running back and the 13th best player in the state of Tennessee according to Rivals.
He starred in both years for the Volunteers. As a freshman, Gray had a 200-yard rushing game against Vanderbilt with three touchdowns while averaging 9.8 yards a carry and a big game in Tennessee’s bowl. He picked up where he left off in 2020, going for 772 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns while being a big factor in the passing game.
Oklahoma needed another running back and got one after T.J. Pledger transferred. The Sooners only had three scholarship running backs for 2021 with Kennedy Brooks likely leaving after the season. Gray will join Brooks, Marcus Major and Seth McGowan in Oklahoma’s backfield.
[vertical-gallery id=23666]