2020 Oklahoma Sooners Football Countdown to Kickoff | 61 Days!

Welcome back to another exciting edition of our 2020 Countdown to Kickoff series! I hope you all had a fun Independence Day weekend. As of this Monday, there are 61 days left until the Oklahoma Sooners are scheduled to begin the upcoming college football campaign. Speaking of the number 61, let’s take a look back at one of the finest runs from senior RB Rhamondre Stevenson’s debut season.

Originally from Las Vegas, Nevada, Stevenson made his way to Oklahoma after playing a couple years of JUCO ball at Cerritos College in California. Right away, it was apparent to anyone who watched his tape that he wasn’t an ordinary back. At 6’, 229 pounds, he’s an absolute load to deal with at the point of attack, but don’t let his size fool you. He’s nimble enough on his feet to make defenders miss. If a would-be tackler does manage to contact Stevenson, it often comes with a price. Just ask the Kansas Jayhawks. Those poor young men didn’t stand a chance against this runaway train. 61 yards later — touchdown OU.

For a lot of Sooner fans, an easy player comparison to draw from watching Stevenson run is that of Samaje Perine. Both carry the ball with a low center of gravity, and the raw power in their lower body makes them almost impossible to successfully bring down on first contact. Even more so, it’s clear that their bruising style isn’t the only way they can hurt a defense. Once Stevenson broke into the open space, he quickly reached top speed and went untouched the final 45 yards — seriously. At nearly 230 pounds, this man was booking it.

Amazingly, this wasn’t even Stevenson’s longest run of the year. He had a 75-yarder against South Dakota in Week Two. What’s also impressive is that he appeared in the Sooners’ first 13 games, only missing the College Football Playoff Peach Bowl semifinal for a suspension (a penalty that is likely carrying over into 2020). For his season total, he racked up 515 yards and six TDs on 64 carries. His 8 yards per carry average led all Oklahoma rushers, and tied starter Kennedy Brooks in terms of total scores. Once he’s able to play — whether that be the season opener against Missouri State or the Oct. 17 matchup at Iowa State — he’s expected to be a key contributor for the OU offense.

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