Just as Sooner Nation got excited about a budding star, he was gone.
Oklahoma freshman running back Tory Blaylock impressed quickly in his college football debut before exiting the Sooners' season opener against Illinois State early in the third quarter on Saturday in Norman.
Tory Blaylock leaves Sooners' game with injury
According to OU Insider's Brandon Drumm, who was at field level, Blaylock walked off the field with his right arm dangling and went inside the trainer's tent with an apparent shoulder injury. Fans immediately hoped it was just a stinger after taking a hit, but then Blaylock eventually went back to the locker room and never returned to the game.
Listed as RB2 on OU's Week 1 depth chart, Blaylock had a team-high eight carries that he took for 44 yards and found the end zone for his first career touchdown on a five-yard run just before halftime. He also caught two passes for 18 yards.
Tory Blaylock had a great drive and caps it off with a 5-yard run for a touchdown to put the Sooners up 21-0🔥 pic.twitter.com/rE2ZYxEKSW
— D. Ferrel💣 (@dferrel15) August 30, 2025
Blaylock was a consensus four-star recruit in the 2025 class from Atascocita High School in Texas. According to the 247Sports Composite, Blaylock was the No. 17 running back in the 2025 class.
If Blaylock isn't seriously injured, he could compete to be OU's lead back considering he outdid Javontae Barnes and how little we saw of Cal transfer Jaydn Ott.
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