Tag: demarco murray

Sooners offer 2025 4-star running back and Florida commit, Waltez Clark

Waltez Clark, a talented four-star prospect out of Tampa is the latest to receive an offer from Oklahoma.

The state of Florida has been a hotbed for elite running backs over the last 20 years. With the talent that routinely comes out of Florida, that won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

[autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag] in pursuit of running backs for Oklahoma’s [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag]. His latest find has taken him to Tampa, Florida. At Plant High School, there is a young man named Waltez Clark, a consensus four-star running back prospect who just received an offer from the Sooners.

Clark is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound dynamo with the size, speed, toughness, and lateral quickness to be an every-down back for a major college program. He had 77 carries for 476 yards and 15 touchdowns, caught 22 passes for 358 yards and four touchdowns, and recorded 23 tackles, two for loss, and one sack for his Plant High school team.

Clark committed to Florida in September. Florida is in a tricky spot as another mediocre season could see their program go into another rebuild, which could help open the door for the Sooners to flip Clark.

Waltez Clark’s Recruiting Profile

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Gavin Sawchuk graded as a top 10 freshman running back by Pro Football Focus

Gavin Sawchuk had a really solid season for the Sooners which earned him a top 10 running back grade among freshman running backs per PFF.

The running back position for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2023 was an up-and-down roller coaster. What was thought to be a strength of the team early in the season ended up being one of their weaker positions for most of the year.

That was until [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] emerged about midway through the season. After that, he gave the Sooners a running game and running attack they didn’t have for much of the season. So much so the redshirt freshman running back was graded as the seventh-best freshman running back by Pro Football Focus.

Sawchuk finished the year with 744 yards on 6.2 yards per carry and led all freshmen running backs with nine touchdowns. He ended the season on a tear after being plagued by an injury early in the season. He had five straight 100-yard games and averaged more than seven yards per carry in those five.

If he kept that five-game average for all 13 games last season, he would have finished with more than 1,600 yards rushing. Finishing at No. 4 in the nation and second in the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag]. He also would have finished tied for No. 6 in touchdowns.

It was a great ending to the season for Sawchuk but in 2024 he’s going to have to find a way to stay healthy. Even in their bowl game what appeared to be an injury he suffered in the second half really hurt the way the team finished. If he can stay healthy though, he could prove to be one of the better backs in the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

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Oklahoma trending for four-star RB Tory Blaylock after OU Junior Day visit

Oklahoma received three FutureCasts for four-star running back Tory Blaylock after his Junior Day visit.

Fresh off landing the number one running back in the nation for the 2024 cycle in [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag], [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag] is back on the grind for [autotag]2025 recruiting class[/autotag].

The Sooners’ running back coach has been rock solid on the recruiting trail since taking over the role. In fact, it’s possible to say he’s getting even better.

2025 brings new prospects, new relationships, and new challenges for Murray. With the depth Oklahoma has at running back, likely, Oklahoma won’t take three backs like they did in 2024, but that doesn’t mean they’ll dip in quality.

[autotag]Tory Blaylock[/autotag], one of Texas’ best running backs, is on Oklahoma’s radar. Apparently, junior day went well for the Sooners. Three Rivals FutureCasts have been logged in favor of the Sooners landing Blaylock.

OUInsider’s Parker Thune and Brandon Drumm each logged predictions in favor of Oklahoma. As did Landyn Rosow, who covers the Texas A&M Aggies for Rivals.

Blaylock’s social media presence was active during the visit, and by and large, he seemed to enjoy Norman with his family as well.

Blaylock is a five-foot-eleven every-down back with a track background. As a freshman, he posted several sub-11.00 100-meter times, including 10.70 and 10.83. He also shows explosion, power, and the ability to be a pass catcher out of the backfield. In short, he’s a complete back.

Oklahoma’s efforts at Junior Day have seemed to resonate with Blaylock and his family. The Sooners have put themselves in an excellent position to land their first running back commit of 2025.

He’s got an NFL lineage. His father, Derrick Blaylock, played five seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Jets after his collegiate career at Stephen F. Austin.

The Oklahoma Sooners don’t currently have a running back committed for the 2025 cycle, but if the FutureCasts hold, they could be closing in on their first runner in the class.

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Nation’s No. 1 running back in the class of 2024 officially signs with the Oklahoma Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners add Taylor Tatum to the team after he officially signs his National Letter of Intent.

The [autotag]2024 early signing period[/autotag] is here, and the Oklahoma Sooners have received the signature from one of their most sought prospects. [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag] is a five-star prospect and the nation’s top running back in the class of 2024.

Tatum could come in and immediately contribute to a running back room for Oklahoma that was up and down in 2023. He has a very similar playing style to former Sooners running back [autotag]Joe Mixon[/autotag].

He’s not as big as Mixon, though, listed at 5 feet, 11 inches and 205 pounds. He can help in the passing game as well as the running game. He’s also a dual sport athlete who is expected to play both football and baseball at Oklahoma.

Here is what Gabe Brooks, a national scouting analyst for 247Sports, had to say about Tatum:

Instinctive lane-finder. Plays with patience. Presses blocks to allow for holes to materialize. Also knows how to buy a couple more strides of time on perimeter runs to help blockers re-route defenders. Quick-footed in the hole. Regularly makes something out of nothing when penetration disrupts play in the backfield. – Brooks

More from the [autotag]2024 Early Signing Period[/autotag]

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State of Oklahoma’s top running back officially signs with the Sooners

The state’s top running back is officially apart of the Oklahoma Sooners football team.

Running back was an up-and-down group in 2023 for the Oklahoma Sooners. But [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag] proved how good he was as a recruiter with the class of 2024.

One of those guys who committed and now has signed is the state of Oklahoma’s top-ranked running back, [autotag]Xavier Robinson[/autotag]. The Carl Albert Titan is built like a titan, standing 6 feet, 2 inches and weighing 220 pounds.

He burst on the scene after an incredible junior season in which he rushed for 2,594 yards and 39 TDs on 9.4 yards per carry. He had another fantastic season in 2023, securing Max Preps Oklahoma Prep Player of the Year. After receiving substantial interest nationally, he committed to the Sooners.

As far as his role for 2024, that is unclear. The Sooners return a great deal in the running back room. It’s unclear if new offensive coordinators [autotag]Seth Littrell[/autotag] and [autotag]Joe Jon Finley[/autotag] will use an H-back or fullback in their offense.

If they do, I can see a world where Robinson makes an immediate impact playing that [autotag]Trey Millard[/autotag], [autotag]Dimitri Flowers[/autotag] or [autotag]Jeremiah Hall[/autotag] type of role.

More from the [autotag]2024 Early Signing Period[/autotag]

 

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Sooners continue to add via the transfer portal with commitment from RB Sam Franklin

Oklahoma continues to add productive pieces via the portal as UT-Martin transfer Sam Franklin commits to the Sooners.

Oklahoma has lost three running backs to the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] in the last few weeks. In many ways, it was beneficial, given it is nearly impossible to keep six scholarship running backs happy.

[autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag], [autotag]Daylan Smothers[/autotag] and [autotag]Tawee Walker[/autotag] entered the transfer portal. Walker is still practicing with the team, so there’s a chance he remains in Norman. [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag] and the rest of the offensive staff decided losing three running backs was too much and offered multiple players in the transfer portal. One of those offers went to Sam Franklin, a talented and productive running back from UT-Martin.

After a visit with Oklahoma this week, Franklin cashed in that offer and announced his commitment to the Sooners. Franklin was a Walter Payton award finalist for the Skyhawks. The award is given annually to the national offensive player of the year in the Football Championship Subdivision of Division I.

For the 5-foot-10, 190-pound redshirt sophomore, 2023 was a massive year. With 223 carries, he amassed 1,378 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns. He caught 14 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown in 11 games. He’s decisive and quick enough to break away at the second level. Adding him to [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] and [autotag]Jovontae Barnes[/autotag] gives Oklahoma three game-ready backs who have produced significantly. It also allows Oklahoma to ease incoming freshmen [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag], [autotag]Xavier Robinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Andy Bass[/autotag] into the collegiate football world.

Franklin has two years of eligibility remaining, and his commitment brings Oklahoma’s transfer portal commitment tally to four.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on Twitter @thatmanbryant.

2023 Position Review: Oklahoma Sooners running backs start the season slow, finish strong

The running back position was a disappointment for most of the season but how they closed the year provided reason to be excited about 2024.

The Oklahoma Sooners’ running back room had an up-and-down season in 2023. It was supposed to be one of their stronger groups led by [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] and [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag].

But both players battled injuries earlier in the season, so instead, it was the [autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag] and [autotag]Tawee Walker[/autotag] show for the first half of the year. Walker and Major did a solid job in that role, but both have their limitations. Oklahoma needed Barnes or Sawchuk to get healthy and take the reins.

Barnes was never really able to get healthy or contribute, but after the bye week, Sawchuk took off. He finished the year with four straight 100-yard games and gave the Sooners a look at what they hoped to have all season.

Let’s take a look at their overall grade based on preseason expectations, who stepped up, their best performances, and what the future holds for the position.

More: 2023 Review: Sooners Quarterbacks exceed expectations.

Oklahoma Sooners receive commitment from 2026 4-Star RB Jonathan Hatton

The Oklahoma Sooners earned their first commitment of the 2026 recruiting cycle with a pledge from four-star running back Jonathan Hatton.

The Oklahoma Sooners recruiting efforts are ahead of schedule. On Tuesday, they earned their first commitment of the 2026 recruiting cycle from four-star running back [autotag]Jonathan Hatton[/autotag].

Oklahoma offered Hatton back in June after attending [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] football camp. He was back on campus at the end of July and then was in town for the Oklahoma Sooners beatdown of Iowa State this weekend.

Hatton is a consensus four-star running back prospect and someone who could see his profile rise even higher over the next three years. 247Sports, On3, and Rivals each consider him a top-80 prospect in the cycle and top 10 player in Texas for 2026.

The sophomore already has fantastic size for the running back position, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 205 pounds.

He’s a runner who displays fantastic vision with great cut-back ability. He’s strong at the point of attack, willing to take on tacklers, and can often break through contact. Hatton also displays enough speed to get to the second level and take it the distance for a touchdown.

When you watch his highlights, his running style reminds you of running backs coach [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag] and former Sooner great [autotag]Joe Mixon[/autotag]. Both were smooth runners with upright styles that can make people miss, as well as break tackles to pick up extra yards.

With the commitment the Sooners earned the pledge of one of the top players in the state of Texas.

Jonathan Hatton’s Recruiting Profile

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Oklahoma set to host a number of prospects for season opener vs. Arkansas State

The Oklahoma Sooners are hosting a number of prospects over the next few recruiting cycles for their season opener. Who’s will be in attendance?

Oklahoma’s first game of the season comes against Arkansas State in what could be a blistering day in Norman, Oklahoma. Aside from the pageantry of the first game and the excitement it’ll generate, the Sooners will also be playing host to a number future Sooners and other OU targets.

With the summer dead period officially over, athletes can revisit schools. Oklahoma has already established a nice little list of visitors of both the official and unofficial variety.

We’ve taken the liberty of compiling a list of all the visitors we know now.

Taylor Tatum on 247Sports ‘biggest freaks’ list for 2024

Taylor Tatum was a huge win for the Sooners. He was also named to 247Sports biggest “freaks” list.

The [autotag]Oklahoma Sooners[/autotag] recevied some huge news in July when five-star running back [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag] committed to the Sooners over the USC Trojans.

The Sooners’ running back room, led by [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag], is stacked for the next few years, and adding a talent such as Tatum will only boost their rushing effort heading into the [autotag]SEC[/autotag].

Tatum was recently named No. 16 on the top 50 “freaks” in the 2024 class by 247Sports.

Tatum is one of the few members of this year’s list that will legitimately play two sports in college as he’s committed to Oklahoma for both football and baseball — and there’s a good chance that he will be a star in each sport for the Sooners. – Andrew Ivins, 247Sports

It’s no secret baseball played a huge role in why he ultimately chose the Sooners. Some even think he could be a better baseball player than a football player when it’s all said and done. Oklahoma has had success with dual sport athletes such as Heisman Trophy winner [autotag]Kyler Murray[/autotag] played both.

Tatum, who also won district and area championships this spring in the 200-meter dash, is the type of running back that defenses hate to face with his strong core balance, sound vision, and elite burst. That’s evident after a junior season at Longview (Texas) in which he ran for a school-record 1,890 yards and 33 touchdowns. Pitchers don’t like to face him, either — not after he hit .350 this spring with 11 doubles, three triples and 20 RBI. — Ivins, 247Sports

Oklahoma fans hope he can continue that dominance in both sports when he makes his way to Norman. Then, instead of being one of the “biggest freaks” in high school, he can also be one of the “biggest freaks” in college.

His senior season is off to a phenomenal start. In Longview’s opener, he carried the ball 18 times for 149 yards and a touchdown. He also threw the ball for a 31-yard score.

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Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.