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The Oklahoma Sooners starting lineup appears to be in a good place, with few spots really up for grabs as training camp got underway on Wednesday. One of the spots that will be a focus for many over the next month and into the season is the running back position. Early on, one player has an edge in the running back rotation. Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant.
Avant earned the start for the Sooners in the spring game and performed well behind Oklahoma's first-team offensive line. When running backs coach Deland McCullough spoke to the media earlier this week, he stated Avant would "go out there first" if the Sooners were to play a game on Tuesday.
More: One question for each position group for the Oklahoma Sooners
The junior has impressed McCullough with his consistent performance in practice.
“To get on the field for me, you have to grade at 85% or better, to even have a chance to play,” McCullough said. “And Lloyd has been grading at 94, 95% at a very consistent level. I struggle to find something that Lloyd messed up on twice. … He’s a poster child for the details.”
Avant's ascension to the lead running back role (at least at the start of camp) has as much to do with his performance as it has the opportunity. Oklahoma's returning running backs from the 2025 season, Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson, have been limited this offseason. Avant has taken advantage of the opportunity, putting himself in a great spot to be the starting running back when Oklahoma plays the UTEP Miners on Sept. 4.
He's a dynamic multi-purpose back who had 678 combined rushing and receiving yards and six touchdowns a year ago for Colorado State. He spent one year at Tulsa under offensive assistant Kevin Wilson.
Avant will have to continue to put forth a consistent performance to hold onto the top spot in the running back rotation. Robinson and Blaylock will be back eventually. True freshmen Jonathan Hatton and DeZephen Walker have impressed this offseason.
The Sooners have a number of options, but in the first week of fall camp, it's Avant's job to lose.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Unlikely name leading Oklahoma Sooners running back rotation
Continue reading...
Avant earned the start for the Sooners in the spring game and performed well behind Oklahoma's first-team offensive line. When running backs coach Deland McCullough spoke to the media earlier this week, he stated Avant would "go out there first" if the Sooners were to play a game on Tuesday.
More: One question for each position group for the Oklahoma Sooners
The junior has impressed McCullough with his consistent performance in practice.
“To get on the field for me, you have to grade at 85% or better, to even have a chance to play,” McCullough said. “And Lloyd has been grading at 94, 95% at a very consistent level. I struggle to find something that Lloyd messed up on twice. … He’s a poster child for the details.”
Avant's ascension to the lead running back role (at least at the start of camp) has as much to do with his performance as it has the opportunity. Oklahoma's returning running backs from the 2025 season, Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson, have been limited this offseason. Avant has taken advantage of the opportunity, putting himself in a great spot to be the starting running back when Oklahoma plays the UTEP Miners on Sept. 4.
He's a dynamic multi-purpose back who had 678 combined rushing and receiving yards and six touchdowns a year ago for Colorado State. He spent one year at Tulsa under offensive assistant Kevin Wilson.
Avant will have to continue to put forth a consistent performance to hold onto the top spot in the running back rotation. Robinson and Blaylock will be back eventually. True freshmen Jonathan Hatton and DeZephen Walker have impressed this offseason.
The Sooners have a number of options, but in the first week of fall camp, it's Avant's job to lose.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Unlikely name leading Oklahoma Sooners running back rotation
Continue reading...
