OU position outlook: Running backs
NORMAN — Oklahoma returns a pair of rushers who had more than 900 yards on the ground a year ago in Kennedy Brooks and Trey Sermon, with some intriguing new faces as well. Here's a look at the Sooners' running backs.
Starter
Trey Sermon (Jr., 6-0, 221)
Key backups
Kennedy Brooks (RSo., 5-11, 209)
T.J. Pledger (So., 5-9, 195) Marcus Major (Fr., 5-11, 211) Rhamondre Stevenson (Jr., 6-0, 232)
Scouting ahead
This season: Sermon started 12 games last season while Brooks has yet to make his first start. But Brooks came on strong late in the season and passed Sermon in rushing yards, finishing with 1,056 yards. Sermon had 947 yards. Regardless of who starts, those two are likely to get the majority of the reps at running back this season. In recent years, though, the Sooners have suffered plenty of injuries at running back, wiping out depth more than once. Even without injuries, T.J. Pledger and Rhamondre Stevenson figure to have roles, with Stevenson added from junior college over the offseason. Pledger is the smaller of the two and is more a change-of-pace back while Stevenson might be asked to shoulder some of the burden in short-yardage situations. Major might be on the outside looking in as far as the regular rotation, but his physical makeup has wowed teammates already and he could be ready if needed.
The future: None are seniors, though it is not hard to envision Sermon — or Brooks — bolting to the NFL after this season.
Recruiting running backs hasn't been a problem for the Sooners in a long, long time and it remains a strong part of the 2020 class. Oklahoma currently has two running backs committed — four-star Jase McClellan of Aledo, Texas, and another four star, Seth McGowan of Mesquite (Texas) Poteet. McClellan is the No. 45 overall player in the 2020 class, according to Rivals. That makes him the highest-ranked Sooners commit in that class so far by a wide margin. Offensive line commit Nate Anderson is next, coming in at No. 124.