Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Five Sooners to keep a watchful eye on in 2021

By Chip Rouse

Dec 30, 2020; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey (8) rushes Florida Gators quarterback Emory Jones (5) in the fourth quarter at ATT Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2020; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey (8) rushes Florida Gators quarterback Emory Jones (5) in the fourth quarter at ATT Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 24, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Eric Gray (0) runs with the ball as Oklahoma Sooners cornerback Kendall Dennis (21) defends during the spring game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Eric Gray (0) runs with the ball as Oklahoma Sooners cornerback Kendall Dennis (21) defends during the spring game at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

RB Eric Gray

Of the six new players the Sooners have added for the 2021 season courtesy of the transfer portal, former Tennessee running back Eric Gray is probably the biggest catch.

Gray’s arrival couldn’t be better timed. Redshirt junior Kennedy Brooks returns to the OU roster this season after opting out a year ago out of COVID-19 related health and safety concerns. Brooks gained over 1,000 yards in each of his first two OU seasons and, barring injury, will be the lead running back to start the season.

When Gray committed to the Sooners in late January, the OU running back situation for the 2021 season appeared to be very iffy beyond Brooks. And there was also concern that Brooks may not be what he once was after sitting out an entire year.

Rhamondre Stevenson, the team’s leading rusher a year ago had declared for the NFL Draft, T. J. Pledger had entered the transfer portal and is now at Utah and Seth McGowan was later dismissed from the team for his participation in an alleged robbery. That left redshirt sophomore Marcus Major and two walk-on running backs to back up Brooks.

The addition of Gray provides Oklahoma with a complimentary one-two punch with Brooks at running back as well as a player with starting experience. And in Brooks gets off to a slower than anticipates start to the season, it won’t be surprising to see Gray take over the No. 1 job.

In two seasons at Tennessee, Gray ran for 1,311 yards and eight touchdowns and also was used in the passing game, hauling in 43 catches for 389 yards and three touchdowns. He has five 100-yard rushing performances to his credit, including a career-high 246 rushing yard against Vanderbilt his freshman season.

You add a guy like Gray, who’s versatile out of the backfield, you have a double-barreled weapon, said former Sooner star and now running backs coach. DeMarco Murray. “He’s probably the most natural catchers and receivers out of the backfield we have right now,” Murray should know because that describes to a “T” the type of running back he was at OU.

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