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NORMAN — Oklahoma’s running back position is filled with two veterans and two freshmen who received significant playing time last season.
Gavin Sawchuk and Jovantae Barnes will enter their fourth seasons with the Sooners in the fall, while Taylor Tatum and Xavier Robinson are aiming to take another step as sophomores next season. OU boasts four productive returners at running back — all of whom could likely start — a rare feat in the modern era of college football.
“I speak for myself, OU is a special place, especially for the running back position,” Sawchuk said after one of the Sooners’ final spring practices. “There's an opportunity to do great things here with the history as a running back here. So just having that opportunity to do that, and then, it's a competitive game. Wherever you go, you're gonna have to compete.”
With spring camp coming to a close following the Crimson Combine on Saturday, there’s been strong competition at running back. Barnes, OU’s leading back a season ago with 577 yards, wasn’t a full participant this spring as he’s working on returning from a foot injury.
Sawchuk has led the way with Robinson and Tatum behind him.
More: Former OU football quarterback Patrick Fletcher dies
“It's gone great,” Sawchuk said. “The team is looking really good, offense has been doing well. Love Coach (Ben) Arbuckle. Love the schemes that he's putting together. Running backs, we've been competing. We've been working. So it's been great. Just having everybody around as an offense, as a team as well. It's all about getting better.”
While it’s mostly the same faces in the position group, the Sooners’ running backs are adjusting to a new offense led by Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer.
“It's different schemes, different play calls but a lot of the same routes, schemes and runs,” Sawchuk said. “It's just adjusting to his call style, what he likes to do, some minor tweaks, some of the blocking and some of the route assignments. But ultimately he has some good stuff. He has some smart stuff. And I like what he's doing, getting a lot of opportunities to make big plays from all positions.”
Sawchuk added of Mateer: “He's a great quarterback. A great dude, great leader. He's a competitor, he's tough. Just loves to be out there. You just sense that energy from him. So it's great to be around him. It's great to have somebody like that at quarterback leading and pushing the charge.”
A veteran now, Sawchuk is looking to step up as more of a leader this upcoming season for OU. Last season didn’t go as planned for the former four-star recruit, who rushed for just one touchdown and appeared in just nine games.
Not only is Sawchuk working to get back to where he was on the field when he rushed for nearly 750 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023, he’s pouring into the younger players at the position.
More: OU football announces changes to extend 2025 Crimson Combine
“One thing I've been trying to work on is stepping up and being more vocal in the offense and stepping out of my comfort zone,” Sawchuk said. “Just trying to be more vocal and lead some of those younger guys, bring them along, show them what the standard is, what we expect here at OU.”
A highly-touted recruit out of Longview, Texas, Tatum played in 11 games last season but struggled with fumbling issues. Robinson, a Yukon native who played at Carl Albert High School, unexpectedly broke out, rushing for 233 yards and seven touchdowns.
Sawchuk says Tatum and Robinson have improved vastly this offseason.
“They've developed and matured a lot, especially with the new offense, picking it up fast, learning what they have to do, being accountable for their job,” Sawchuk said. “... They've already done this, they can compete, they can hold their own. They show up every day and work hard and push all the other running backs to do the same.”
If the Sooners’ offense is going to improve after a disappointing 2024 season, they’ll need more production from their running backs. With all four proven contributors back, the position group could end up being one of the strongest and deepest on the team.
“It's really competitive, we’re performing well,” Sawchuk said. “I love that the guys are all doing great. It's been impressive to see what we will be able to put together, make a lot of explosive plays, make plays happen. Having that competitive environment in that room with guys that are bonding at the same time, it's been great.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football 'really competitive' at running back during spring practice
Continue reading...
Gavin Sawchuk and Jovantae Barnes will enter their fourth seasons with the Sooners in the fall, while Taylor Tatum and Xavier Robinson are aiming to take another step as sophomores next season. OU boasts four productive returners at running back — all of whom could likely start — a rare feat in the modern era of college football.
“I speak for myself, OU is a special place, especially for the running back position,” Sawchuk said after one of the Sooners’ final spring practices. “There's an opportunity to do great things here with the history as a running back here. So just having that opportunity to do that, and then, it's a competitive game. Wherever you go, you're gonna have to compete.”
With spring camp coming to a close following the Crimson Combine on Saturday, there’s been strong competition at running back. Barnes, OU’s leading back a season ago with 577 yards, wasn’t a full participant this spring as he’s working on returning from a foot injury.
Sawchuk has led the way with Robinson and Tatum behind him.
More: Former OU football quarterback Patrick Fletcher dies
“It's gone great,” Sawchuk said. “The team is looking really good, offense has been doing well. Love Coach (Ben) Arbuckle. Love the schemes that he's putting together. Running backs, we've been competing. We've been working. So it's been great. Just having everybody around as an offense, as a team as well. It's all about getting better.”
While it’s mostly the same faces in the position group, the Sooners’ running backs are adjusting to a new offense led by Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer.
“It's different schemes, different play calls but a lot of the same routes, schemes and runs,” Sawchuk said. “It's just adjusting to his call style, what he likes to do, some minor tweaks, some of the blocking and some of the route assignments. But ultimately he has some good stuff. He has some smart stuff. And I like what he's doing, getting a lot of opportunities to make big plays from all positions.”
Sawchuk added of Mateer: “He's a great quarterback. A great dude, great leader. He's a competitor, he's tough. Just loves to be out there. You just sense that energy from him. So it's great to be around him. It's great to have somebody like that at quarterback leading and pushing the charge.”
A veteran now, Sawchuk is looking to step up as more of a leader this upcoming season for OU. Last season didn’t go as planned for the former four-star recruit, who rushed for just one touchdown and appeared in just nine games.
Not only is Sawchuk working to get back to where he was on the field when he rushed for nearly 750 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023, he’s pouring into the younger players at the position.
More: OU football announces changes to extend 2025 Crimson Combine
“One thing I've been trying to work on is stepping up and being more vocal in the offense and stepping out of my comfort zone,” Sawchuk said. “Just trying to be more vocal and lead some of those younger guys, bring them along, show them what the standard is, what we expect here at OU.”
A highly-touted recruit out of Longview, Texas, Tatum played in 11 games last season but struggled with fumbling issues. Robinson, a Yukon native who played at Carl Albert High School, unexpectedly broke out, rushing for 233 yards and seven touchdowns.
Sawchuk says Tatum and Robinson have improved vastly this offseason.
“They've developed and matured a lot, especially with the new offense, picking it up fast, learning what they have to do, being accountable for their job,” Sawchuk said. “... They've already done this, they can compete, they can hold their own. They show up every day and work hard and push all the other running backs to do the same.”
If the Sooners’ offense is going to improve after a disappointing 2024 season, they’ll need more production from their running backs. With all four proven contributors back, the position group could end up being one of the strongest and deepest on the team.
“It's really competitive, we’re performing well,” Sawchuk said. “I love that the guys are all doing great. It's been impressive to see what we will be able to put together, make a lot of explosive plays, make plays happen. Having that competitive environment in that room with guys that are bonding at the same time, it's been great.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football 'really competitive' at running back during spring practice
Continue reading...
