DeMarco Murray entered 2022 with a bit much less stress about his working again scenario.
Ahead of the 2021 season, transfers and off the sector points left the Sooners with simply two scholarship working backs on the roster.
Kennedy Brooks moved onto the NFL on the finish of the 2021 season, however the return of Eric Gray and Marcus Major together with freshman additions in Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk gave Murray loads of choices.
As it turned out, Murray actually solely wanted Gray to have a profitable season.
After struggling to search out his footing as a primary 12 months switch from Tennessee in 2021, Gray ended up having one of many nice dashing seasons in Oklahoma soccer historical past.
He carried the ball 213 occasions, working for 1,364 yards — a mark which was ok to be the ninth-best dashing whole in a single season in program historical past.
Gray shortly emerged because the centerpiece and most constant a part of OU’s hit-or-miss offense, ending No. 14-overall within the nation with 6.4 yards per carry.
He rushed for over 100 yards in eight of his 12 appearances this 12 months, breaking the 150-yard threshold towards Kansas and Texas Tech and bruising West Virginia for 211 yards on the bottom in Morgantown.
Before opting out of the Cheez-It Bowl to organize for the NFL Draft, Gray ended up with 11 dashing touchdowns, whereas additionally exhibiting off his versatility by catching 33 passes for 229 yards.
2022 OU Report Cards:
- Wednesday, Jan. 4: Defensive Ends
- Thursday, Jan. 5: Offensive Line
- Friday, Jan. 6: Defensive Tackles
- Saturday, Jan. 7: Tight Ends
- Sunday, Jan. 8: Linebackers
- Monday, Jan. 9: Wide Receivers
- Tuesday, Jan. 10: Cornerbacks
- Wednesday, Jan. 11: Running Backs
- Thursday, Jan. 12: Safeties
- Friday, Jan. 13: Quarterbacks
- Saturday, Jan. 14: Special Teams
- Sunday, Jan. 15: Coaching Staff
Gray’s 2021 success largely got here when he was shortly tossed the ball to get out into the open area. He’d then gobble up as many yards as attainable earlier than contact, the place he’d then go down and make manner for Brooks.
With one other 12 months beneath the steering of Murray, Gray took his sport to the subsequent degree.
Regardless of if he met defenders within the gap, on the second degree or in area, Gray at all times appeared to both make the primary defender miss or run him over.
While Gray undoubtedly led the best way for Oklahoma’s working backs, Barnes additionally emerged as a strong No. 2 choice behind him over the course of the season.
The true freshman carried the ball 116 occasions in 2022, combating for 519 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Barnes confirmed potential towards Nebraska, selecting up 77 yards on 13 rushed after the sport was in hand, however had his popping out get together in Fort Worth.
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Oklahoma was battered by TCU 55-24 on the day, however Barnes rushed for a good 100 yards and two touchdowns after Gray left the sport within the second half.
The Las Vegas product rushed for an additional 69 yards and two touchdowns a few weeks laters towards Kansas, however a hamstring harm slowed his momentum.
Barnes was referred to as upon for 17 mixed carries towards West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech earlier than Gray’s resolution to decide out of the bowl sport afforded the newcomer an enormous alternative.
Facing Florida State’s gifted line of defense, Barnes made his debut as Oklahoma’s characteristic again in Orlando, and he didn’t disappoint.
He led OU rushers with 108 yards and a landing on 27 carrels agains the Seminoles, however his efficiency was someway overshadowed by one other member of the working again corps.
Sawchuk, a fellow true freshman, dazzled in his solely actual sport motion of the season for Oklahoma.
The Colorado native confirmed his top-end pace, bursting by a makeshift offensive line play-after-play to whole 100 yards and one landing on 15 carries.
Unlike Barnes, Sawchuk didn’t be a part of up with this system in spring apply, setting him behind his fellow 2022 recruiting classmate in OU’s pecking order.
But Sawchuk nonetheless made essentially the most of his alternative, giving OU followers hope that he’ll kind a dynamic duo with Barnes in 2023.
Major additionally was referred to as upon for 56 carries in 2022, dashing for 227 yards, as he fell to the wayside because of Gray’s excellence and an harm of his personal.
Even with out huge contributions from Major this 12 months, Murray was capable of get nice manufacturing out of his unit in 2022 whereas additionally establishing a vivid future at his place in Norman.
Grading the working backs:
- Hoover: A
- Chapman: A+
- Callaway: A+
- Lovelace: A
Running backs GPA: 4.0 (Graded on a 4.0 scale)
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