Sooners provide an update on a player who could completely change the way the offense is ran vs. LSU
Ben Arbuckle and the Sooners offense is set to get Taylor Tatum back.
Similar to last season, but not nearly as bad, the Oklahoma Sooners have dealt with a ton of injuries in 2025. They have had some key players out, whether starters or depth players. The whole season, the Sooners have been without running back Taylor Tatum, who showed a ton of promise as a freshman last season. Now, he’s back.
“For the first time, he’s [running back Taylor Tatum] healthy and available,” head coach Brent Venables told reporters at the podium on Tuesday.
Having Tatum back could completely change the way the offense looks on Saturday against the LSU Tigers.
Taylor Tatum being back for the Sooners helps dramatically
The run game started picking up this season when Xavier Robinson got healthy. His game against the South Carolina Gamecocks was what made everyone realize he had to be the guy going forward. He was that against the Ole Miss Rebels and the Tennessee Volunteers, and he was great. Robinson got injured against the Alabama Crimson Tide and hasn’t been great since.
Tory Blaylock has been playing through injuries, Tatum has been injured all year, Jovantae Barnes has also been hurt, and Jaydn Ott is not a good football player right now.
So, with Robinson hurt, the Sooners could lean on Tatum now that he’s healthy, which is vital for maintaining offensive effectiveness and adapting their game plan. Last season, Tatum was great, all things considered.
Taylor Tatum’s stats in 2024
- Games Played/Started: Appeared in 11 games with 3 starts (vs. Tennessee, at Missouri, and vs. Alabama)
- Carries: 56 rushing attempts
- Rushing Yards: 278 yards
- Yards Per Carry: 5.0 average
- Rushing Touchdowns: 3
- Longest Rush: 35 yards
- Notable Absences: Missed games at Auburn and vs. LSU due to injury or other reasons
Having some fresh legs in the backfield and a guy who can run and catch the ball helps open up the offense again against the LSU Tigers. This offense isn’t good, but as offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said, they play winning football – that’s their style. They try to limit turnovers and get their offense into scoring or field-goal positions, with Tate Sandell being as lethal as he is.
Not only does Tatum have great speed and an ability to excel in this running scheme, but he also has good size and strength. If he can carry the load until guys like Blaylock and Robinson get healthy, and they beat LSU, the run game could be dangerous against their first opponent in the College Football Playoff.
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