Tag: Marcus Major

Jovantae Barnes back in the mix after injury riddled 2023

We now know what was holding Jovantae Barnes back last year after a promising freshman season.

Last year was supposed to be the season [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag] and [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] experienced breakout years. Instead, it was [autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag] and [autotag]Tawee Walker[/autotag] leading the way in the early part of 2023.

That was because Sawchuk was nursing an injury, but it was never clear why Barnes wasn’t playing much. He would suit up just about every game. He would even get in at some points but just never looked like himself.

Barnes met with the media after practice on Monday and shared what happened last season.

“It had a lot to do with my foot surgery and just the timing,” Barnes said. “Just me trying to rush it and make sure I can be back before the season and be out here for the coaches and make sure they can depend on me. I just wasn’t ready, and there would be times where I was like, ‘Okay, I feel good at practice, I feel good this week.’ Then I would go back out there, and I wouldn’t be able to burst.”

Barnes said he’s spent a lot of time in the training room this offseason and finally feels back to normal. A lack of playing time and Sawchuk’s breakout stretch to close the year brought a lot of speculation that he might hit the transfer portal after the year. Barnes said that wasn’t an option as he wanted to keep playing for running backs coach [autotag]DeMarco Murray[/autotag].

If the Sooners can get Barnes back to what he was as a freshman, they could have a legit one-two punch heading into the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. But both guys have to get healthy and stay healthy this offseason.

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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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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.

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Oklahoma Sooners make final 4 for coveted transfer running back

The Sooners could soon get more good news in the transfer portal. This time a running back with SEC experience.

The Oklahoma Sooners lost three running backs to the transfer portal this offseason: [autotag]Tawee Walker[/autotag], [autotag]Daylan Smothers[/autotag], and [autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag].

While they are expected to sign the No. 1 running back in the country, [autotag]Taylor Tatum[/autotag], they would like to add someone in the [autotag]transfer porta[/autotag]l.

One of the running backs they are looking at is someone with [autotag]SEC[/autotag] experience, [autotag]Mario Anderson[/autotag].

Anderson played for the [autotag]South Carolina Gamecocks[/autotag]. He led the Gamecocks in rushing with 707 yards and three scores. If you watched the Gamecocks this year, you would know how impressive that is, given how poor their offensive line was.

Nonetheless, the Sooners will have to battle against three other teams for Anderson’s services. One of the teams they are competing against is a team all too familiar to Sooner fans. Anderson included Oklahoma alongside USC, Memphis and Cal.

If the Sooners are able to earn his commitment, Anderson would provide leadership to a really young room next season.

[autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag] seems to have solidified his spot as the starting running back, but he’s a third-year guy next year with only one season of experience. The losses of Walker and Major were big in the sense that you lost your two veterans in the room. Anderson would come in and fill that void.

For now, the Sooners are in wait-and-see mode with a lot of their portal targets. Anderson is no different.

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Another Oklahoma running back enters the transfer portal

The hits continue as the Oklahoma Sooners lose another one to the transfer portal.

Transfer portal season is here. The Oklahoma Sooners had several players enter their names into the portal on Monday. The Sooners have lost three running backs to the [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag]. [autotag]Marcus Major[/autotag] made his announcement earlier Monday.

Major came in as a highly touted running back from Oklahoma City, but injuries held him back. He came back this season and started for much of the year before getting injured once again.

Major finished his Oklahoma career with 194 carries for 833 yards and eight touchdowns. Major has one year remaining and will be a sixth-year senior wherever he decides to go next.

Most likely, this leaves the Sooners with [autotag]Gavin Sawchuk[/autotag], [autotag]Jovantae Barnes[/autotag], [autotag]Kalib Hicks[/autotag] and [autotag]Emeka Megwa[/autotag] for the bowl game.

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Oklahoma Sooners 2023-2024 transfer portal tracker

Know who’s coming and going with our 2023-2024 Oklahoma Sooners Football transfer portal tracker.

The 2023-2024 transfer portal season is off and running, and we’ll help you keep track of all the movement here at Sooners Wire with our handy [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] tracker.

The Sooners have made a living off the transfer portal over the years. And while they will not be quarterback hunting in this year’s transfer portal season, the Sooners will have some areas they need to address.

Bryant Crews looked at five positions the Sooners should target in the transfer portal this offseason to supplement their ranks.

We’ll keep you updated with the transfer portal movement as it happens.

Updated: Dec. 18, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

Sooners RB Tawee Walker planning to enter transfer portal

Running back Tawee Walker announces his plan to enter transfer portal.

Oklahoma’s running back room just got slightly smaller as junior running back Tawee Walker announced plans to enter the transfer portal.

The decision comes as a bit of a shock, considering Walker is the clear-cut number two back on the team. Still, it’s understandable that Walker decided to seek opportunities for more carries as Gavin Sawchuk has tightened his grip as the bell-cow back towards the end of the season and into the offseason.

This year, Walker has been a significant part of the Sooners’ running game. While his numbers aren’t gaudy, except for a one-game suspension, Walker had multiple carries in critical moments in almost every game this season. Walker and Marcus Major were the duo that got the season started, while Sawchuk and his fellow 2022 classmate Jovantae Barnes worked to get healthy.

Walker, who walked on from Palomar College, appeared in 10 games and started one. This season, he rushed for 496 yards with seven touchdowns and zero fumbles, averaging a sturdy 5.2 yards per carry. He had two multi-touchdown games—one against Arkansas State to start the season and another against Texas in the Red River Rivalry game.

As new play-caller Seth Littrell attempts to start piecing together his vision for this offense next year, he’ll have to do so without arguably Oklahoma’s most physical runner.

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.

15 highest graded Oklahoma Sooners on offense per Pro Football Focus for 2023

The 15 highest-graded Oklahoma Sooners on offense after the regular season.

The Oklahoma Sooners’ offense had a banner year in 2023. A number of players had great seasons for an offense that finished No. 3 in the nation in scoring and No. 4 in total yards.

It was an offense that scored more than 40 points seven times and 50 or more three times.

Though there were times when the offense needed to be better, it was one of the best in the nation. Their performances against Texas, Iowa State, West Virginia, and TCU were incredible, helping propel the Sooners to a 10-2 record.

But who were the most important pieces to the offense? Let’s take a look at Pro Football Focus’ top 15 highest-graded players on offense from the 2023 regular season.

Minimum 188 snaps

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.

20 highest-graded Oklahoma Sooners through Week 10 per Pro Football Focus

The 20 highest-graded Oklahoma Sooners through week 10 per Pro Football Focus.

Though the Oklahoma Sooners are on a two-game losing streak, they’ve already surpassed their win total from a year ago with three games to go and a bowl game.

They still have a shot at a Big 12 title game berth. And after 6-7, that’s all we can really ask for.

The offense has shown improvement on third down and in the red zone. Dillon Gabriel is having a career year. The defense has shown significant improvement this season. A year ago, they allowed 30 or more points seven times. This year that’s only happened once against Kansas. Texas scored 30, but seven of those can be attributed to special teams on the blocked punt.

Yes, they lost winnable games the last two weeks, playing uncharacteristically sloppy football. Otherwise, they’ve been a really good team this year.

As they get ready to close the season, here are the top 20 highest-graded players according to Pro Football Focus through week 10.

Minimum 25% snap count

Offense: 177.75

Defense: 167.75