No player from Oklahoma was selected in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night, but that doesn't mean there wasn't proof the Sooners can produce first-round talent.
Notre Dame had a pair of running backs taken on Day 1 in Jeremiyah Love with the third overall pick to the Arizona Cardinals and Jadarian Price at No. 32 to the Seattle Seahawks. As the first two running backs off the board, both played for new OU running backs coach Deland McCullough during his three seasons with the Fighting Irish in 2022-24.
The Sooners have their own history turning out NFL talent at running back, but now there's recent proof the man in charge of the position now can further that tradition.
Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price could lead more talent to Oklahoma
Love just finished his college career as the Doak Walker Award winner, which goes to the best running back in the country. Even while backing up Love, Price still had the talent to produce 674 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. However, his greatest rushing total of 746 came in his final season under McCullough in 2024 as Love posted his first 1,000-yard performance.
McCullough was most recently the running backs coach for the Las Vegas Raiders for a season before getting to OU over the offseason, but Notre Dame was his most recent college stop. That means McCullough has coached the last two players to win the Doak Walker Award between Love and 2024 winner Ashton Jeanty during his rookie NFL season.
Love and Price heading to the NFL didn't begin McCullough's list of talented protégés, but only grew the already impressive group that also included Jeanty, Audric Estime, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kareem Hunt, Tevin Coleman and more.
The Fighting Irish were getting a lot of credit ahead of the draft for boasting two top prospects from the same backfield, but as he should, McCullough made sure to point out he was part of their success to make sure the Sooners also benefit in recruiting. He even shared an article about it on X with the comment, "High School RBs should take notice…of their ENTIRE STORY," with a picture of him with both players. He also celebrated both picks Thursday on social media.
High School RBs should take notice…of their ENTIRE STORY 👀👀👀. Proud of those guys!!! https://t.co/Ibnx6lxMJg pic.twitter.com/GaLn9Am9hK
— Deland McCullough (@coachdmc) March 5, 2026
It might have been the second year in a row the Sooners didn't have a first-round pick, but the program still quietly benefited with how things unfolded, which could soon end that first-round drought.
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