NORMAN - Oklahoma’s ground game is searching for a jolt, and Tory Blaylock might be the best candidate to provide it.
Through four weeks, the Sooners have managed only 99 rushing yards per game, a figure that puts them 15th in the SEC. They’re also averaging 2.9 yards per carry, which has pushed Oklahoma to lean on quarterback John Mateer more than it probably wants to.
Lloyd Avant has handled the heaviest load at running back so far. He leads the Sooners in both usage and efficiency among tailbacks with 164 yards and a touchdown on 42 carries. The production has been solid enough, but not enough to make the run game feel settled, and Oklahoma still needs more help from the backfield.
That’s where Blaylock enters the picture after the bye week.
The sophomore’s 2026 season has been slowed by injuries, but his track record is hard to ignore. As a true freshman in 2025, he led Oklahoma with 480 rushing yards and four touchdowns. He topped 100 yards in wins over Temple and South Carolina, showing the kind of burst the Sooners have been missing.
His path back has been rocky. Blaylock missed most of spring practice because of an injury, then dealt with a new hamstring issue during the first week of fall camp. He was held out of the opener against UTEP and didn’t make his 2026 debut until the Michigan game.
Even after returning, Oklahoma has eased him in carefully. He had just one carry against the Wolverines and four the following week against New Mexico.
Against Georgia, though, Blaylock offered a glimpse of what he can bring when he’s close to full strength. He was the Sooners’ most efficient back among those with multiple carries, averaging 3.3 yards per rush, and he came close to finding the end zone in the second quarter before being stopped just short of the goal line.
That limited workload looks more like a recovery plan than a reflection of his role. Now that he appears to be moving to the right side of the healing process, a bigger share of the carries could be coming.
Blaylock’s speed has never been in question. The 5-foot-11, 212-pound back ran a sub 10.5-second 100-meter dash in high school, and that explosiveness showed up on long runs against Temple, South Carolina and LSU last season.
Avant’s outing against Georgia was rough, as he finished with 23 yards on 10 carries. That doesn’t mean he should be pushed aside, but it does underline the bigger issue: Oklahoma can’t afford to have just one dependable runner as SEC play ramps up.
The Sooners need somebody else to step forward. If Blaylock is healthy enough to handle more work, he has the production and the burst to give Oklahoma a much-needed spark on the ground.
In Other News...
Brent Venables Just Picked Up More Pressure At Oklahoma
Brent Venables is entering the kind of stretch that can change the mood around a program fast. Oklahoma already has two losing seasons in the last four years under Venables, and even with a contract extension through 2031, the early part of the 2026 season has done little to quiet the unease. A 2-2 start and the offenses uneven play have put the Sooners in an uncomfortable spot, where patience is getting tested against expectations.
The path ahead does not offer much relief. Oklahoma still has a brutal schedule in front of it, with multiple ranked opponents left to navigate, and the margin for error is already thin if the Sooners want to get back to bowl eligibility. They need to win at least half of their remaining games, so the next month will say plenty about whether this season becomes a rebound or another frustration point in Venables tenure. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Jackson Is Giving Oklahoma Exactly What This Defense Needed
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What makes Jacksons start even more valuable is the timing. Oklahoma has been good on that side of the ball, but the missed tackles have been hard to ignore, with 49 of them over the first four games, and that leaves plenty of room for the Sooners to tighten things up. Senior captain Kip Lewis has pointed to Jacksons consistency and leadership as part of that process, and for a defense still chasing cleaner execution, having a player in the interior who keeps showing up the same way every week matters. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas 2028 Recruiting Push Is Starting To Get Very Real
Oklahomas early work on the 2028 class is picking up steam, and the next two months could give the Sooners a meaningful foothold with several highly regarded prospects. Running back Jayshawn Mitchell, offensive lineman Nick McChesney, athlete Kamieon Compton-Nero and edge rusher Keoni Snipes are all scheduled to visit Norman, giving Brent Venables and his staff a chance to keep building relationships well before those players reach the heart of their recruiting timelines.
The interesting part for Oklahoma is that these are not simply courtesy stops on the itinerary. Each of the visitors is also mapping out trips to other programs, and some have already trimmed their lists with the Sooners still in the mix. For a staff trying to stay ahead in the next cycle, getting that many early visits lined up is a sign the pitch is landing, even if the real decision-making is still a long way off. [Read more 🡒]