Oklahoma 2022 Progress Report: Running Back

Oklahoma 2022 Report Card Running Back Latest News Update

DeMarco Murray went into 2022 with a little bit much less stress and anxiety regarding his running back circumstance.

Ahead of the 2021 period, transfers and also off the area problems left the Sooners with simply 2 scholarship running backs on the lineup.

Kennedy Brooks relocated onto the NFL at the end of the 2021 period, yet the return of Eric Gray and also Marcus Major together with fresher enhancements in Jovantae Barnes and also Gavin Sawchuk offered Murray lots of alternatives.

As it ended up, Murray truly just required Gray to have an effective period.

After having a hard time to locate his ground as an initial year transfer from Tennessee in 2021, Gray wound up having among the wonderful hurrying periods in Oklahoma football background.

He carried on 213 times, competing 1,364 backyards– a mark which sufficed to be the ninth-best hurrying total amount in a solitary period in program background.

Gray swiftly became the focal point and also most constant component of OU’s hit-or-miss violation, completing No. 14-overall in the country with 6.4 backyards per bring.

He hurried for over 100 backyards in 8 of his 12 looks this year, damaging the 150-yard limit versus Kansas and also Texas Technology and also wounding West Virginia for 211 backyards on the ground in Morgantown.

Prior to pulling out of the Cheez-It Dish to plan for the NFL Draft, Gray wound up with 11 hurrying goals, while likewise flaunting his adaptability by capturing 33 masquerades 229 backyards.

2022 OU Record Cards:

Wednesday, Jan. 4: Protective Ends
Thursday, Jan. 5: Offensive Line
Friday, Jan. 6: Defensive Tackles
Saturday, Jan. 7: Limited Ends
Sunday, Jan. 8: Linebackers
Monday, Jan. 9: Pass Receiver
Tuesday, Jan. 10: Cornerbacks
Wednesday, Jan. 11: Running Backs
Thursday, Jan. 12: Securities
Friday, Jan. 13: Quarterbacks
Saturday, Jan. 14: Unique Groups
Sunday, Jan. 15: Training Personnel

Gray’s 2021 success primarily came when he was swiftly threw the sphere to go out right into the open area. He would certainly after that demolish as several backyards as feasible prior to get in touch with, where he would certainly after that drop and also give way for Brooks.

With an additional year under the advice of Murray, Gray took his video game to the following degree.

No Matter if he fulfilled protectors in the red, at the 2nd degree or precede, Gray constantly appeared to either make the very first protector miss out on or run him over.

While Gray definitely blazed a trail for Oklahoma’s running backs, Barnes likewise became a strong No. 2 alternative behind him throughout the period.

Truth fresher carried on 116 times in 2022, defending 519 backyards and also 5 goals.

Barnes revealed prospective versus Nebraska, grabbing 77 backyards on 13 hurried after the video game remained in hand, yet had his appearing celebration in Ft Well worth.

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Oklahoma was damaged by TCU 55-24 on the day, yet Barnes hurried for an also 100 backyards and also 2 goals after Gray left the video game in the 2nd fifty percent.

The Las Las vega item hurried for an additional 69 backyards and also 2 goals a number of weeks laters versus Kansas, yet a hamstring injury reduced his energy.

Barnes was hired for 17 mixed lugs versus West Virginia, Oklahoma State and also Texas Technology prior to Gray’s choice to pull out of the championship game managed the newbie a massive possibility.

Dealing with Florida State’s gifted protective line, Barnes made his launching as Oklahoma’s attribute back in Orlando, and also he really did not let down.

He led OU rushes with 108 backyards and also a goal on 27 carrels agains the Seminoles, yet his efficiency was in some way outweighed by an additional participant of the running back corps.

Sawchuk, a fellow real fresher, impressed in his only actual video game activity of the period for Oklahoma.

The Colorado local revealed his top-end rate, rupturing via a makeshift offending line play-after-play to overall 100 backyards and also one goal on 15 lugs.

Unlike Barnes, Sawchuk really did not associate the program in springtime method, establishing him behind his other 2022 recruiting schoolmate in OU’s position.

However Sawchuk still maximized his possibility, offering OU followers wish that he will certainly create a vibrant duo with Barnes in 2023.

Major likewise was hired for 56 lugs in 2022, hurrying for 227 backyards, as he was up to the wayside because of Gray’s quality and also an injury of his very own.