Sooners fans see new RB1 as Tory Blaylock earns SEC award

Sooner Nation almost immediately realized what the Oklahoma Sooners have in freshman running back Tory Blaylock, but now others are also taking notice.

Blaylock on Monday was named SEC Freshman of the Week after exploding for 100 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in the No. 13 Sooners' Week 3 win over Temple on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Tory Blaylock named SEC Freshman of the Week

Blaylock has been impressive since his college debut Week 1 against Illinois State, but he reached a new gear against Temple while clearly asserting himself as the Sooners' top running back. He led the team with 14 carries and averaged a whopping 7.1 yards an attempt. OU's other three running backs combined for 14 carries on Saturday.

Senior Jovantae Barnes technically got the start against Temple and scored on the opening drive, but he finished with just five rushes for 12 yards, averaging 2.4 yards a carry. Three of Barnes' five attempts came on that first possession.

Cal transfer Jaydn Ott seemed to be the clear leader of the Sooners' backfield heading into the season, but between being banged up and minimal usage, the odd situation has Ott as OU's RB4 after three games. Ott has just nine attempts for 17 yards this season and twice hasn't gotten a carry until the fourth quarter.

But as Ott has disappointed so far and Barnes seems to have lost a step after multiple injuries, Blaylock has taken over. He's averaging 5.4 yards a carry through three games with 166 yards and three TDs. And according to OU head coach Brent Venables, fans haven't even seen Blaylock at 100% yet.

"Just a tough guy. Not 100% healthy and he loves to compete,” Venables said postgame Saturday. "We’ve been bragging on him since way back in the spring. He led in the spring with the most explosive plays. He runs through trash. He’s got great speed. He’s got on the edge. You saw that, his burst. He’s got really good patience and pace to him, too, as a running back. Runs well behind his pads and runs through a lot of arm tackles."

Blaylock has quickly won over Sooner Nation and earned the trust of his coaches with his play, especially if he's doing so while toughing out an injury.

“He’s not a true freshman,” offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said. "His mindset, the way he shows up every day in the building and at practice and how he understands everything the offense asks -- he’s not a true freshman.

"He’s a stud. He prepares like a stud.”

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