E’Marion Harris didn’t waste any time getting to the heart of what Oklahoma is trying to fix.
The transfer offensive lineman, who arrived in Norman this spring after leaving Arkansas, made it clear after Friday’s practice that the Sooners’ ground game is more than just a talking point in August. It’s the mission.
“Just everybody coming in, day to day, just setting that mindset like, ‘We’re going to run the damn ball,’” Harris told media after Friday’s practice. “That’s our No. 1 thing in the offensive line room is running the damn ball.”
For Oklahoma fans, that kind of line lands. It’s direct, it’s forceful, and it cuts through the usual fall-camp fog of generic praise and vague optimism. It also fits with everything Brent Venables has been saying all offseason: the run game has to become a real weapon in 2026.
That urgency comes from hard numbers. Oklahoma has watched its rushing production slide since joining the SEC, and the drop-off has been especially rough over the last two seasons.
The Sooners’ last 1,000-yard rusher was Eric Gray in 2022, when Oklahoma also ranked 10th nationally in rushing offense, per cfbstats.com. From there, the team fell to 35th in 2023, then slid to 75th in its first SEC season in 2024.
Last year, the Sooners dropped all the way to No. 113 out of 136 FBS teams.
Venables has spent the offseason making it plain that those numbers need to change. His staff moves and portal additions have reflected that, and the message has clearly reached the locker room. Harris’ comments echoed what tight end Hayden Hansen said earlier this spring.
“I've got some news for you guys: it's here and it's looking good,” Hansen said of OU's run game during spring camp. “We are running the rock, we are pounding the rock every practice. It's a beautiful thing to see.
"I know that's one of the biggest reasons they brought me here. I take a lot of pride in that. (12 personnel's) looking good, even if it's (11 personel), we are moving the rock and we are doing it well, so it's really exciting."
Harris and Hansen both bring SEC experience from Florida, which matters in a league where the line of scrimmage can decide everything. New tight end Jack Van Dorselaer also arrived from Tennessee, giving Oklahoma another piece it hopes can help power the run game under new coach Jason Witten.
Venables understood from the start that life in the SEC would be about trench play. He’s already turned Oklahoma’s defensive line into one of the best in college football, but the offense hasn’t matched that standard. That’s why the focus this offseason has been so heavy on the run game, and why Harris’ quote carries extra weight.
The Sooners do have experience returning up front. Four of the five expected starting offensive linemen are back from last season, and three of those players were freshmen a year ago. So this is no longer a unit learning college football and the SEC at the same time.
Last season, only two of Oklahoma’s projected starting offensive linemen had ever started an SEC game. Now, whether Harris or Heath Ozaeta wins the fifth spot, the entire starting front should have already taken its lumps against SEC defensive lines. That alone gives Oklahoma a sturdier foundation heading into 2026, especially with the run game sitting near the top of the priority list.
In Other News...
Oklahomas Backfield Concern Is Getting Harder To Ignore
Oklahoma spent a full-pads practice session at the OU Rugby Field trying to keep camp moving, even with a few players working through injuries and others in limited or no-contact roles. The setting still had the feel of a typical August tune-up, with coaches active across drills and new tight ends coach Jason Witten right in the middle of things, stressing technique and effort while the Sooners pushed through the day.
The more revealing part came in the backfield, where the running back group did not look fully settled physically. Sophomore Tory Blaylock dressed out but did not take part at full speed for much of practice, and freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. appeared to be in a similar spot, leaving Oklahoma with another reminder that the position remains worth watching closely as camp continues. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Is Suddenly In The Middle Of A Massive Recruiting Battle
Oklahomas recruiting staff is spending real time on Jalanie George, one of the top EDGE prospects in the 2026 cycle, and the timing matters. The Sooners are looking to keep building up a defensive front that can carry them into the seasons ahead, so a player with Georges profile naturally rises to the top of the board when the calendar starts closing in on a decision.
Recruiting expert Steve Wiltfong has noted that Oklahoma is making a strong late push in Georges recruitment, which is exactly the kind of momentum program followers want to hear about this time of year. Even with the finish line nearing, the race around a player like George can shift quickly, and for the Sooners this is the kind of battle that can change the shape of a class if it breaks their way. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Running Back Battle Could Shape The Sooners 2026 Ceiling
Oklahomas push to raise its 2026 ceiling starts with a backfield that is still sorting itself out in fall camp. Under running backs coach Deland McCullough, the Sooners are working through a room that mixes familiar names and fresh arrivals, with returning runners Raleek Robinson and Eric Blaylock alongside transfer Jerrion Avant and freshmen Jalen Hatton and Jayden Walker.
It is the kind of position battle that can quietly shape an offense long before September arrives. Oklahoma knows it needs more production on the ground, and the camp evaluation now becomes about more than depth - it is about which combination gives the Sooners the best chance to find consistency when the games begin. [Read more 🡒]