This will be sweet music to Oklahoma fans’ ears, like "Boomer Sooner" being played after a touchdown at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Offensive lineman E’Marion Harris just got to Oklahoma this spring after transferring from Arkansas, but he’s already fully bought into fixing what’s been a problem for the Sooners long before he got to Norman: the run game.
“Just everybody coming in, day to day, just setting that mindset like, ‘We’re going to run the damn ball,’” Harris told media after Friday’s practice. “That’s our No. 1 thing in the offensive line room is running the damn ball.”
#Sooners' E'Marion Harris and Lloyd Avant explained the importance of the offensive line's mentality in the run game. pic.twitter.com/xjhPzh7ELT
— OU Daily (@OUDaily) August 7, 2026
During a time usually filled with coach speak and talk of who’s impressing during fall camp only to barely even see the field, this is the kind of quote that will actually get fans fired up about what’s going on this preseason and reveals further how much of an emphasis this has been for the Sooners top to bottom heading into 2026.
SEC experience key in Sooners improving run game
The Sooners’ lack of run game has been the biggest headache, especially the last two years since Oklahoma joined the SEC. That phase of the game has declined every season under head coach Brent Venables but saw its most dramatic fall after jumping from the Big 12.
The last time the Sooners had a 1,000-yard rusher was Eric Gray in 2022, when OU as a team was also 10th nationally in rushing offense, per cfbstats.com. Then, after being 35th in the stat in 2023, Oklahoma plummeted to 75th in its first year in the SEC in 2024. Last season was even worse at No. 113 out of 136 FBS teams.
Venables has made it clear all offseason that the Sooners’ running game has to be better in 2026 and beyond. His actions have also matched that narrative between his assistant coach hires and transfer portal additions. His message has also been sent down to his players on what appears to be the No. 1 priority on the offensive side of the ball this offseason.
Harris’ recent comment echoes what new tight end Hayden Hansen had already said this spring just months after getting on campus.
"I've got some news for you guys: it's here and it's looking good," Hansen said of OU's run game during spring camp. "We are running the rock, we are pounding the rock every practice. It's a beautiful thing to see.
"I know that's one of the biggest reasons they brought me here. I take a lot of pride in that. (12 personnel's) looking good, even if it's (11 personel), we are moving the rock and we are doing it well, so it's really exciting."
Read more: Hayden Hansen ignites real hope for Oklahoma run game revival
It’s no coincidence that Harris and Hansen, from Florida, both came from other SEC programs with lengthy starting experience in the conference. New tight end Jack Van Dorselaer also came from Tennessee, as the Sooners hope the position can bolster the run game under new coach Jason Witten.
Venables knew going in that SEC play would be decided in the trenches. He transformed his defensive line into one of the best in all of college football but OU hasn’t kept up on the other side.
The Sooners return four of five starting offensive linemen from last season. Three of them were freshmen last year, so they weren’t just getting their first experience in the SEC, but college football in general.
This time last year, only two of the Sooners’ expected starting offensive linemen had ever started an SEC game. Now, whether it’s Harris or Heath Ozaeta in that fifth spot, the entire frontline will have faced an SEC defensive line on a weekly basis before. That alone should give fans more confidence in the Sooners’ offensive line heading into 2026, especially since there’s an obvious emphasis on making sure the run game is better.
Add us as a preferred source on Google