2010 Oklahoma Football Preview: Fullbacks/Running Backs

DeMarco Murray may be one of the most unappreciated running backs in Oklahoma football history right now. Possibly because he's been injury prone but largely because he was the next, "big time" back to follow Adrian Peterson. Most people don't realize that Murray has averaged 5.2 yards per carry over his career or that going into his final season he's 23 career rushing yards ahead of where Billy Sims was going into his final season at OU. 

Now Murray has his sites on something that would separate him permanently from every running back to ever wear the crimson and cream. Bob Stoops has stated that they want to feed Murray the ball time and again this season and Murray is wanting to respond with a 2,000 yard season. If he pulls that off he'll become the all-time leading rusher in Sooner football history but he's going to need two things for that to happen. An offensive line that can create holes and a full back that can get him on the edge.

True freshman Trey Millard currently holds the top spot at fullback on the depth chart but the battle with Marshall Musil isn't over. Millard came to OU as a runningback/tight end recruit but seems to have made a significant impact at the bulldozer position. As a senior he rushed for 1,413 yards and 17 touchdowns on 219 carries. He has the body size (6-2/246) to be a good blocking back and the speed to be an offensive weapon. Of course many Sooner fans are familiar with Musil because of his performance at the spring game. Keep two things in mind here, 1) there weren't any other running backs available for the spring game and 2) blocking always comes first at this position.

At this point the biggest question surrounding Oklahoma's running backs is who will be first off the bench in the Utah State game? Mossis Madu seems to have solidified the backup spot behind Murray and while most would agree that he's more than capable in that position there's the matter of him being suspended at least for the Utah State game.

One person we know it won't be is Roy Finch who suffered a hairline fracture on his ankle but even with him sitting there is still an embarrassingly abundant number of options. Sophomore Jermie Calhoun has highly touted and averaged 4.9 yards per carry in mop up duty last year. True freshman Brennan Clay was a four star recruit by Rivals and five star by scout. Jonathan Miller, another sophomore, is making his way back from a knee injury he suffered last season but averaged 7.2 yards per carry (18 carries) in mop up duty before the injury.