OU running back room rounding into form with Gavin Sawchuk, Jovantae Barnes taking control

OU fans had this vision for what the 2023 running back room was supposed to be. Gavin Sawchuk and Jovantae Barnes had such a stellar close to the 2022 season against Florida State in the Cheez-It Bowl that it was a natural assumption they’d be the one-two combo.

Sounded good in theory. But that sure as heck wasn’t reality. Sawchuk began the season banged up. We now know that the toe injury for Barnes simply derailed his entire season. Wasn’t just something small to clean up. It took time.

So it was time lost for the duo in 2023. Sawchuk, though, did close strong once again. He ended the season with five straight 100-yard games and cemented himself as the No. 1 back heading into this season.

Nobody is saying that’s changed, but everybody is saying it’s good to see Barnes back. The real Barnes, leaving 2023 behind and ready to roll again.

The room, as a whole, is deeper. Adding transfer Samuel Franklin to go with freshmen Taylor Tatum and Xavier Robinson . And Kalib Hicks has been progressing just fine.

But it still feels like it’s going to be about Sawchuk and Barnes. They’re going to dictate where this position group goes in 2024.

Sawchuk excited for Barnes

“There’s only really one running back on the field, but it’s such a useful position having someone else, having other people there with you,” Sawchuk said. “Sometimes, your day may be off and his day is hitting or vice versa, whatever it may be. But to have somebody that maybe something’s not hitting for you, and all of a sudden you blow something up, everything else is open. To be able to have that combo, whatever it may be, however many running backs you have in the game. Like to have that opportunity, it’s been great.

“Jovantae is a great teammate. He supported everyone that’s in there. Challenging everyone that’s in there. He’s doing those same things, and he’s going out there doing it himself as well. He’s a great servant leader, doing what he’s doing. It’s been great.”

Sawchuk rushed for 744 yards and nine touchdowns. Barnes rushed for 140 yards and a single score, averaging less than four yards per carry.

Tatum has seemingly adjusted well, being talked about multiple times through the first three weeks of camp.

RB and OL working together

You can get so caught up with the offensive line, but head coach Brent Venables sees the backs as part of that equation.

A strong, intelligent running back room can help an offensive line just as much as pancake blocks. Venables believes he’s that right now. A group that is realizing the why to running calls to with everything else.

“Our backs are playing really good,” Venables said. “The line is only as good as those running backs, too. As we’ve seen, we’re improved at running back from where we were a year ago. I like our depth there. I like our playmaking.

“Like our understanding at the position. I think there’s a better understanding from the backs. What’s the point, what’s the read of any particular run, what’s the objective, what are we trying to set up, what are we trying to accomplish, the style of run, things of that nature.”

Final word

“I think just learning the importance of team, learning the importance of having somebody that’s a leader, having somebody that you can rely on, fall back on. That trust factor is really important and that’s something we’ve really been emphasizing as a team is just how can we grow as a team? How can we mesh well together? How can our leaders bring everyone together? It’s always about player-led, not coach-fed. Player-led teams are the ones that go the distance, so that’s what we’re emphasizing.” – Sawchuk

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