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Oklahoma Football: RB Rhamondre Stevenson declares for NFL Draft

By John Makuch

Nov 21, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Rhamondre Stevenson (29) reacts after the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2020; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Rhamondre Stevenson (29) reacts after the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oklahoma football running back Rhamondre Stevenson has decided to not use his final year of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft.

He announced this decision via Twitter Thursday night in what was a small surprise for OU fans.

https://twitter.com/dreeday32/status/1347344462138130432

Stevenson played a major role in the Oklahoma backfield this past season after serving a six-game suspension. He rushed for 665 yards and 7 touchdowns with 6.6 yards per carry. He showed great improvements this season and many will wonder if he could have developed further and raised his draft stock had he stayed. Because of his size and strength, however, he will most likely find his place in the NFL.

In the star running back’s last game with the Sooners, he ran for 186 yards and a touchdown in the Cotton Bowl win against Florida.

Stevenson came to Oklahoma as a JUCO transfer out of Cerritos College and immediately showed he belonged in Divison I, Power 5 Football. In 2019 he rushed for 515 yards six touchdowns and averaged an impressive eight yards per carry on 64 attempts. In 2019, he played behind starting running back Kennedy Brooks, who opted out of the 2020 season.

With Brooks returning for the 2021 season, along with Marcus Major and Seth McGowan, the Oklahoma running back room should be in fine shape. But Stevenson’s impact will be missed in 2021, as he was a true game-changer for this team when he returned. to action in midseason this year.

Oklahoma has lost several players to the transfer portal, but more notable are the ones lost to the NFL Draft. Stevenson adds his name to a list that includes center Creed Humphrey, and cornerback Tre Norwood, who had the pick-six in the Cotton bowl.  The Sooners will now await the decision of star defensive lineman Ronnie Perkins, who would be a huge player to get back for the 2021 season.

As for Stevenson, the next chapter in his life is hopefully getting big carries in big games in the NFL. In his Twitter message, he wrote: “Since I was seven years old, I knew my aspiration, and that was to play at the highest level of football possible.”

Look for a team such as the Miami Dolphins to take Stevenson at some point in the draft, as they have a mixed group of backs that could use a strong back to solidify the room. Potentially his now hometown Raiders could snag him as well with their running back situation unclear. S

Stevenson will be a steal in a mid to late-round situation and it will be exciting to see where he lands.

Oklahoma will miss Stevenson. But with Spencer Rattler entering his second season as starting quarterback and field general of this offense and Kennedy Brooks returning, the Sooners should be just fine and make a strong College Football Playoff push next season.

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