Positions preview OSU could get back to three-headed rushing attack

combination of three running backs in the past but haven’t had that depth in recent years. In 2023, they might have that ability again. OSU returns redshirt sophomore Jaden Nixon, sophomore Ollie Gordon and redshirt senior transfer Elijah Collins. All three have played substantial snaps, giving OSU quality depth and experience in the backfield.

the Doak Walker Award as college football’s top running back. Collins had 318 rushing yards last season but was still in a reserve role.

Now, he’s looking for a fresh start in Stillwater, and the Cowboys have an experienced back.

No, it wasn’t an illusion or recency bias, the OSU rushing game was uncharacteristically unproductive in 2022.

The Cowboys’ 1,633 rushing yards was the lowest total since Mike Gundy became head coach in 2005, and the rushing game was only that productive because quarterback Spencer Sanders ran for 391 yards, which ranked second on the team. Only Dominic Richardson rushed for more yards – 543 – which is still low for a starting back.

Now, an already-struggling OSU run game is without Richardson and Sanders, who accounted for more than 57% of rushing yards. Gundy said the Cowboys will focus on getting the run game back up and going, but what’s left to get the job done at running back?

The Cowboys have utilized a

“The good news is the guys who will be playing in the games for us next year have been through (live snaps),” said Gundy, in April during spring practice. “We’ve gone through a number of years where we didn’t have that luxury... We have (three) guys that will be playing in the games next year who have all taken hits and they’re not freshmen.”

Gundy likes to replenish in the portal what he lost in the portal. When OSU lost Richardson to Baylor, the Cowboys picked up experience to pair with its sophomore backs in Michigan State transfer Collins.

In 2019, Collins had a breakout redshirt freshmen season as a starter for the Spartans, and he led the team with 988 rushing yards, which also ranked fourth in the Big Ten. Then, he battled COVID in 2020, which limited his playing time, and he was replaced by Kenneth Walker III in 2021, who won

brownsshoefitstillwater browns.stillwater

201 S. Perkins Rd · 405-372-7170

Mon–Fri 9:30–6:30, Sat 9:30–5:30, Sun 1–5

“He is very mature,” Gundy said. “The one thing I have appreciated with the new guys coming in is it’s the first time we have veteran guys who are 22 or 23 years old that are at a new school and their excitement level is high because they want to be here and chose to be here. I think he is a good example of that. He is always in a good mood, always smiling, always at the office and so I’m excited to watch him develop.”

OSU’s third and fourth leading rushers from a year ago, Gordon and Nixon, each have shown flashes of explosiveness. As a true freshman, Gordon played sparingly behind Richardson and Nixon, but he was handed a heavier load in the final two games, where he combined for 181 yards at an average of 6.2 yards a rush. At 6-foot-1, 211 pounds, Gordon is a stout back that can barrel through defenses.

Nixon turned heads in a reserve role as a freshman but only rushed for 181 yards as a redshirt freshman in

2022. He’s a quick back, though, and he caught a few passes, racking up 189 receiving yards and three rushing touchdowns last year. Both he and Gordon are poised to step take on more carries. Health and effectiveness of the offensive line will have much to say in the success of the rushing game, but the depth and potential is there at running back for the Cowboys to have a threeheaded attack.

“You can know what your style is, and you can also adapt to a little bit of change in the style,” Gordon said. “All our backs are different. Jaden Nixon is the speed back. I’m more downhill. Elijah Collins is more of a mixture of the both of us. He can make you miss but also will knock you over. With that, I don’t think defenses can really game plan for us if we all have different things.” sports.ed@ocolly.com

OSU also reintroduced the fullback position after the dissolution of the Cowboy back position. Fullback will be manned by two redshirt seniors in Braden Cassity and Jake Schultz, who were both block-heavy Cowboy backs. Neither have been huge offensive threats -- Cassity has 123 career receiving yards, and Schultz has only 16.

Week 4: UCF at Kansas State

Facing the retooled reigning conference champion is a tough ask for a team making its debut in Power Five, but UCF seems up for it. Coach Gus Malzahn isn’t new to Power Five, and with the way he spoke about quarterback John Rhys Plumlee at Big 12 media days, neither should his team.

Week 5: Kansas at Texas

Texas became the joke of the 2021 season when it gave lowly Kansas its first conference away win since ‘08. Now, in a matchup of Big 12 preseason offensive player of the year Jalon Daniels and defensive player of the year Jaylan Ford, UT-KU could be something fun. Week 6: Oklahoma at Texas (Dallas)

The Big 12 will no longer see the Red-River game after this season, and this last one should be fun after last year’s dud. Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said he wanted to “celebrate” Texas and Oklahoma in their last year in the conference, so maybe there’s something special in Dallas that weekend. Otherwise, it should be a good ‘ole fashioned football game.

Week 7: Kansas State at Texas Tech

If both teams enter this game undefeated, or with one loss, this will look to be one of the best games in the country and could decide postseason scenarios. Texas Tech is a tough team to play on the road. Ask Houston, Texas and Oklahoma, who all visited Lubbock last season and played in a down-to-the-line game. The winner will show they’re legit in the Big 12 and NCAA.

Week 8: Texas at Houston

This series used to be played in the Astrodome? That’s cool.

Anyway, like week three, either Houston fans show in droves or TDECU Stadium is overrun by burnt orange. This will be another test for Texas on the road, but if they’ve got to this point unscathed, it shouldn’t be too difficult for the Horns. Though, if there is an upset this week, it could be here.

Week 9: Oklahoma at Kansas

By this time in the season (at least, hopefully, or OU fans may never rest), the Sooners defense should be one of the top units in the Big 12. We’ll also likely see Jalon Daniels and the Kansas offense become one of the better rushing teams in the conference, which on paper already creates a nice matchup. Kansas fans have been waiting to be competitive for 15 years, and with OU in its last season in the Big 12, a field rush could end this game.

Week 10: Oklahoma at Oklahoma State

This one is just for bragging rights. No matter the 91-19 all-time series record, if Oklahoma wins, it will always have the last laugh over little brother. But if OSU wins, it could hold it over the Sooners’ head for the rest of time (or at least until both schools miss each other and schedule a game in the 2030s).

Week 11: Texas at TCU

Texas got throttled by the TCU machine at DKR last season, and the Longhorns will be looking to return the favor this season. Hopefully TCU doesn’t have a playoff slump, and this one could be exciting between

Chandler Morris and Quinn Ewers. Or, just maybe — Texas has been bad and Arch Manning is running around Fort Worth. I doubt it, but it should be fun.

Week 12: UCF at Texas Tech

Not sure why, but this has 11 a.m. written all over it. Both teams should be fun to watch this season and that’s basically my only reasoning for this. The rest of the games this week aren’t the most exciting (besides Kansas and Kansas State, but I’d rather watch that in basketball). Who knows, maybe this becomes a rivalry in the future Big 12.

Week 13: Texas Tech at Texas Black Friday college football games are always fun, and this one should be, too. Texas Tech will have one last chance to beat its eternal rival (does Texas see it that way too?) after winning in overtime last year in Lubbock. This series gave us the Michael Crabtree touchdown, and I’m sure Texas Tech will be posting that play everywhere before Texas leaves for the SEC. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Houston...