Despite the Sooners having some early trouble in an area no one wants, Brent Venables is very optimistic about the problem being fixed
The Oklahoma Sooners have to fix their run game for the 2026 season, and the injuries they are dealing with make that very hard to accomplish early in the spring.
The Oklahoma Sooners had one of the worst run games in the entire country last season. That alone was a huge reason why the offense was as bad as it was. If the Sooners can fix the run game and the issues they had last season, there is no telling what this team could do.
However, it’s easier said than done, especially considering OU is starting spring off on the wrong foot. The Sooners have been in spring practice for the last few weeks, and somehow, they have already had injuries to a handful of players, including guys in the running back room. Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock, the presumed first and second string running backs, are already injured. That is not ideal for a team that desperately needs to fix its rushing attack. However, there is a positive in all of this.
“We’re getting some of those young guys the reps that they need so they can play,” head coach Brent Venables said. “We’re going to have to lean on some of those guys. We’ve had some really good explosive runs from Lloyd, from Jonathan Hatton, and from my man DeZephen. (Walker) was fantastic — he scored a touchdown, a really good run in our scrimmage a couple of days ago.”
Luckily, the Sooners have brought in an elite running back class for 2026.
Brent Venables seems to like where the run game is headed
With the injuries the Sooners have sustained, OU can give its young running backs a lot of reps. This is going to be great for their development, and it may even help offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle identify ways to improve the run game overall. Every running back is different, and the freshmen coming in and getting reps could reveal new layers of the run game they can add, whether that’s different plays in the run scheme to improve things or some diversity.
And, it seems like they are catching on quickly.
“Their understanding of what we want to do in both the run game and the pass game and protection… really excited about that group,” Venables said.
Oklahoma is expected to have a lot of these injured players back for fall football. But, this time for the freshmen, it couldn’t be more crucial.
