In his first public statement as Oklahoma's new running backs coach, Deland McCullough has already set the standards for his position.
OU on Sunday announced the official hiring of McCullough and cornerbacks coach LaMar Morgan to hopefully complete Brent Venables' staff for the 2026 college football season after replacing three position coaches already this offseason. In OU's press release, McCullough didn't just briefly introduce himself, but he also quickly laid out what fans can expect from players coached by him.
Sooners make Deland McCullough hire official
"I've been blessed to coach at every level of this game. What's been consistent everywhere I've been is development and production at the running back position," McCullough said in a statement. "Our players will be detailed, dependable and disciplined. That standard does not change."
McCullough isn't just talk either, as his 15 years of experience coaching running backs at big-time college football programs and in the NFL proves. Kevin Wilson, who's now OU's assistant head coach for offense, gave McCullough his first full-time gig coaching running backs at Indiana in 2011 when Wilson took over as head coach there. McCullough also played running back for Wilson at Miami (OH), where Wilson was offensive coordinator.
In six seasons at Indiana, McCullough led his position to set 19 school rushing records and produced two NFL Draft picks. He then spent the 2017 season at USC before making the jump to the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs. McCullough made back-to-back Super Bowls with the Chiefs and became a Super Bowl champion in 2020.
McCullough briefly returned to Indiana in 2021 before three seasons at Notre Dame in 2022-24. With McCullough also holding the title of associate head coach, the Fighting Irish made the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in 2024. McCullough then went back to the NFL for one season with the Las Vegas Raiders before getting to Oklahoma.
Between all those stops at two different levels, McCullough produced 17 running backs that posted at least 1,000 scrimmage yards in a season, including Raiders rookie Ashton Jeanty, who totaled 1,321 yards this past season.
The Sooners haven't had a running back total more than 1,000 yards in a season since Eric Gray in 2022. That skid should end in 2026, though, as McCullough takes over a group with a dynamic 1-2 punch returning between Xavier Robinson and Tory Blaylock.
"Oklahoma represents grit, tradition and championship expectation," McCullough said. "I've recruited several of the backs in this room and built strong relationships here. Now it's about raising the ceiling and competing at the highest level in the SEC.
"I've been around great coaches who taught me to be an expert at your position. That's something I take seriously. When our guys step on the field, what we teach holds. They're prepared, confident and ready to perform."