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The Oklahoma Sooners have had tremendous success in the transfer portal over the years. At the end of the Bob Stoops era and the beginning of Lincoln Riley’s tenure as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners, the quarterback position was bolstered by the transfer portal. In 2021, the Sooners got additions at running back, wide receiver, and offensive line via the transfer portal that will pay huge dividends in 2021.
Most notably, Eric Gray is expected to play a key role in the rushing attack for the Oklahoma Sooners in 2021 despite the return of Kennedy Brooks to the running back depth chart.
Athlon Sport’s Steve Lassan put together the top 25 breakout candidates at running back, and the Sooners’ Eric Gray comes in at number three on the list.
Kennedy Brooks is back after opting out of the 2020 college football season, but Gray could be Oklahoma’s best option at running back. The Tennessee transfer accumulated 1,311 yards and eight rushing touchdowns during his two seasons with the Volunteers, along with 43 receptions for 369 yards and three more scores. Wasting no time, Gray has already made an impression on his new team, including a touchdown run in the spring game. – Lassan
Gray is a versatile back that brings experience and a dual-threat ability that could remind some of an Alvin Kamara-type for the Sooners. Like Joe Mixon before him, Gray’s expected to split out to the slot or wide receiver in certain formations, and he’ll be a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield as well.
And as exciting as his pass-catching prowess is, it’s his natural running ability that will create a nice 1-2 punch for the Oklahoma Sooners with Kennedy Brooks.
Gray has good vision and excellent change of direction. He’s not necessarily fast, but he’s quick and elusive. He can make players miss in the open field and has enough speed to score from every area of the field.
With Lincoln Riley’s desire to run the football at the forefront of the Oklahoma Sooners’ offense, having a running back like Eric Gray as your second starter will pay huge dividends throughout the season. It’s likely that he and Kennedy Brooks will split the vast majority of running back touches in the 2021 season and that timeshare will help keep both guys fresh and running at max performance.
Though Eric Gray is hardly an unknown, as he was productive for the Tennessee Volunteers, the 2021 season is the year he becomes a household name across the country. With his ability, it’s not out of the question that he leads the Sooners backfield in total yards and total touchdowns.