The Oklahoman

Major excited to be part of Sooner RB history

- Adam Kemp akemp@ oklahoman.com

Marcus Major Jr. has looked through the list of great University of Oklahoma running backs.

He felt it was his duty to know what kind of expectatio­ns come with signing with the Sooners.

"It's an honor," the Millwood High School running back said after signing his National Letter of Intent with OU on Wednesday. “It's just a blessing to be with Running Back U.

"Now all I have to do is work."

Major flashed the horns down hand sign after signing his paperwork, his entire family by his side and the Millwood student body looking on from inside the school's gymnasium.

Nearly one year ago Major's profile was boosted by a single tweet. Former OU fullback JD Runnels, who helped train Major, said the 6-foot, 200-pound back compared closest to Adrian Peterson, the former Sooner great and 7-time NFL pro-bowler.

Schools from across the country came knocking at his door, but Major seemingly only had eyes for the Sooners. He even met Peterson on a visit to Norman.

Now he's setting his

The brotherhoo­d down there and the atmosphere down there is great. OU has great athletes that come out of there. I know if I just put in the work, I’ll be successful.”

Marcus Major Jr.

sights on what's in store for his future, but not worrying about legacy. He knows the Sooners have produced numerous great running backs in their storied history and have had a rash of success at the position in the past few seasons alone.

Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine are both in the NFL, Rodney Anderson is heading there while Trey Sermon and Kennedy Brooks are posting eye-popping numbers for the playoffbou­nd Sooners.

Major says he's excited to be a part of that legacy.

“The brotherhoo­d down there and the atmosphere down there is great." he said. "OU has great athletes that come out of there. I know if I just put in the work, I'll be successful."

In the days leading up to signing day, Major's father, Marcus Major Sr., wanted to remind his son of what he was heading into.

With the way his recruiting took off, going from zero scholarshi­p offers to deciding between powerhouse­s like OU, Alabama, Michigan and USC, Major Sr., said he just wanted to reiterate to his son how special the moment is.

“OU doesn’t just come get a kid from inner-Oklahoma City all that often,” Major Sr. said. “Make sure to enjoy this moment.”

Major Jr. has taken that to heart.

Millwood coach Darwin Franklin introduced Major before he sat down to sign. Then he asked the 18-year-old to give some words of wisdom to any younger athletes in attendance inside the Millwood Field House.

"Stay focused on what you are doing," Major said. "Stay dedicated to your craft. Don't let anyone tell you what you can or can't be.

"You just have to work hard for it."

 ?? [PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN] ?? Millwood’s Marcus Major Jr. signed his letter of intent to play football at Oklahoma on Wednesday during a ceremony at Millwood High School.
[PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN] Millwood’s Marcus Major Jr. signed his letter of intent to play football at Oklahoma on Wednesday during a ceremony at Millwood High School.
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