'I love this team a lot' Oklahoma Sooners offensive stud willing to go all in to win
Not much has gone right for the Oklahoma Sooners offensively in 2024. You have to squint to find a lot of the positives in what has been a dismal first season in the SEC. However, if there has been one bright spot, it has been the play of some key freshmen at times this season. […]
Not much has gone right for the Oklahoma Sooners offensively in 2024. You have to squint to find a lot of the positives in what has been a dismal first season in the SEC.
However, if there has been one bright spot, it has been the play of some key freshmen at times this season. One recent star has been running back Xavier Robinson, who nearly willed the Sooners to a win by himself.
With Jovantae Barnes missing the game due to injury, Robinson stepped up and led the team in Oklahoma's 30-23 loss to the Missouri Tigers. He rushed nine times for a team-high 56 yards, sparking the offense.
As just a true freshman, Robinson had met his redshirt limit with his performance against Missouri. The Oklahoma coaching staff this week asked Robinson about what he wanted to do regarding his redshirt, and the true freshman gave a stellar answer:
"I respect BV coming to me and asking and DeMarco and asking about this decision. I made this decision to keep playing. Help this team out. I love this team a lot. Make sure the seniors leave (getting that sixth win)."
On a 12-play, 75-yard drive that tied the game at 16 late in the fourth quarter, Robinson rushed the ball seven times for 48 yards and added on a reception for seven yards that converted a 3rd-and-6.
Truthfully, I don't think many would have blamed Robinson for wanting to stick with his redshirt. Barnes seems likely to return from injury soon and the Sooners still have five-star freshman sensation Taylor Tatum in the rotation as well.
Yet, Robinson stepped up and decided that he was willing to do whatever it takes to keep winning now, even if that meant burning a redshirt that could impact his eligibility later in his career.
Oklahoma will need Robinson to keep stacking up performances like the one he put on the field against Missouri in their last two games. The Sooners are looking to keep a historic bowl game streak alive, but face the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers to close out their season.
If they want any shot of making a bowl game, they'll need to find a way to steal a game away from one of these top SEC programs. To do that, they have to be able to run the ball and make plays on offense. Xavier Robinson might be their secret ingredient in pulling that off.
