The Oklahoma Sooners have a decorated history of elite running back play over their history. Over the last decade, the Sooners have had at least one 1,000-yard rusher in all but two seasons: the COVID-shortened 2020 season and last season in 2023.
Fully healthy, Gavin Sawchuk aims to restore that streak in 2024 after catching fire over the last half of 2023. Under new offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, Sawchuk could easily hit that mark and beyond.
The beginning of 2023 was an inauspicious one for Sawchuk. The back battled a hamstring injury that sapped a lot of his top-end speed.
From Weeks 1-9, Sawchuk rushed the ball 44 times for 127 yards for a measly 2.6 yards per carry. Sawchuk only rushed the ball once against Texas, losing a yard in that process. He had one rush go over 15 yards in that entire slate.
After Oklahoma's surprise loss to Kansas in Week 9, however, it all clicked back on for Sawchuk.
The Colorado native crossed 100 yards in each of Oklahoma's last five games, with a season-high 135 yards in the Sooners' blowout victory over West Virginia. Those explosive plays he missed to start the season came back with a fury, posting 13 runs over 15 yards in that span.
His breakaway % (designed attempts more than 15 yards), according to PFF, was a 0.0%, tying him at 353rd for last place. He finished the year at 14th with a 54% tally.
Sawchuk's yards per carry skyrocketed to 7.17, an incredible number considering he averaged 17 carries a game over those last five games. To illustrate how productive he was, Sawchuk's 2.6 yards per carry to start 2023 would have placed 505th among FBS rushers last year. He finished the season tied for 21st at 6.2 YPC.
Natural Fit With Seth Littrell
In an article last week, I discussed Seth Littrell's rushing scheme and what he's likely to implement with the Sooners this year.
Littrell is likely to run a more gap/inside zone-style offense than Oklahoma did in 2023. While they favored these runs, it wasn't quite the same as what I anticipate Littrell running in 2024.
Sawchuk's film is littered with plays of him hitting cutback lanes with ease and creating additional yardage after the play. Littrell's power rushing attack will get him downhill more often, where his track speed can come into play and create chunk plays.
Keep in mind Sawchuk was a former track star in high school. He was able to run a 6.78 indoor 60 as a sophomore, and he hasn't lost any of that speed.
Oklahoma is also set to be a steady rushing attack in 2024 after a hyperspeed spread offense in 2023. At a press conference this week, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables spoke about the importance of game control and emphasized that being more important in 2024.
Last season, Oklahoma failed to close out games with poor game management and clock control. That has become more of an emphasis in 2024, which points to even more opportunities for Sawchuk to tote the rock.
Gavin Sawchuk's 2023 film is encouraging, as most of his big plays are self-created. That translates in sustainability year-to-year. If he can stay healthy and put his hamstring woes behind him, Sawchuk should easily surpass that 1,000-yard mark in 2024.
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