Few teams dealt with the sheer number of injuries at running back last year like Oklahoma. Five players received at least 20 carries, with no one carrying the ball more than 122 times last season.
It led to OU finishing 76th in FBS and 11th in the SEC in rushing, and the Sooners struggled to a 6-7 record.
Coach Brent Venables made a splash in the transfer portal, accordingly, adding Jaydn Ott from California-Berekely in the offseason. A former first-team All-Pac 12 selection, Ott should provide stability to a position that needs it. And Venables and new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle have some depth behind them, too, with the Sooners’ top three running backs from last season all returning.
A lot depends on the offensive line, but Oklahoma running backs should put up far superior numbers in 2025 than they did in 2024. Health pending, that is.
Here’s a look at how the position stacks up for Oklahoma heading into the fall.
Check out the rest of our 2025 Positional Previews
1. Jaydn Ott – Senior
If Jaydn Ott is the player he was for Cal in 2023, Oklahoma landed one of the best running backs in the country out of the transfer portal this offseason. But if the ankle injury that hampered him throughout 2024 crops back up, Ott may never get a chance to be that player. As a sophomore, he ran for more than 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Bears when they were still in the Pac-12. As a junior last year, he ran for just 38.5 yards per game on less than 12 carries per game in his 10 games. National pundits tab him to bounce back, and there was no word of the ankle bothering Ott in the spring, suggesting a big year for a team that badly needs an offensive bounce-back.
2. Jovantae Barnes – Senior
Jovantae Barnes was Oklahoma’s primary running back in 2024, as much as Oklahoma had a primary running back in 2024. Just as he was finding his way in the role, an ankle injury forced him to miss the final four games of the season. He ultimately ran for 577 yards on 122 carries before being lost. If his health holds up, he should get plenty of carries again in his senior year, though perhaps not as many as last year.
3. Xavier Robinson – Sophomore
In a perfect world, the Sooners would have held on to Xavier Robinson’s redshirt season last year. But injuries forced the Sooners’ hand, and the Oklahoma native didn’t pick up his first carry until November 2 against Maine. His best game came against Alabama when he ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Though he finished with just 41 yards on 16 carries in OU’s final two, Robinson showed he’s got what it takes to be a feature back in the SEC.
4. Taylor Tatum – Sophomore
Taylor Tatum was one of the only Oklahoma running backs last year who had a full season of health. He showed the potential to create big plays, but also struggled to protect the football. He had double-digit carries in just one game. But with 296 yards and three touchdowns as a freshman, Tatum showed he’s capable of being an effective part of the Oklahoma Sooners offense.
5. Tory Blaylock – Freshman
It’s easy to envision a world in which Tory Blaylock becomes in 2025 what Robinson was last year. Oklahoma can take its time in developing the four-star recruit from Texas with the talent and depth ahead of him, but with his speed and explosiveness, it’s possible Blaylock sees snaps as a true freshman.
6. Gabe Sawchuk – Redshirt freshman
Gavin Sawchuk may have left OU before his career was finished, but it doesn’t appear to have been out of spite as little brother Gabe Sawchuk has stuck around. He walked-on last year and doesn’t figure much into the mix this season. Given his pedigree, though, if injuries run rampant through the running back room again, Sawchuk could see some carries here or there. More likely, he’ll be a boon to the scout team.
7. Andy Bass – Redshirt freshman
Andy Bass, the former Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year, sat out his first year on campus to grow and turn himself from a state championship-winning quarterback at Heritage Hall into a college running back. Bass suffered a second knee injury in Oklahoma’s preparation for the Armed Forces Bowl, which decreases the likelihood he’ll see significant snaps this year. But he was a PotY for a reason, so it wouldn’t be shocking that he eventually gets a chance.
Note: Players are listed in what we believe is likely order of playing time, not necessarily ability in future years
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