Oklahoma’s running back room sees two more transfer departures
Three running backs have now hit the transfer portal for Oklahoma, as the Sooners’ logjam in the backfield begins to clear heading into 2024.
Major and Smothers are the second pair of Oklahoma running backs to leave the program since the regular season ended, along with walk-on Tawee Walker. Walker made his transfer announcement last week, one week before the 30-day transfer window opened. At his next program, he will be eligible for another year.
As the NCAA transfer portal window opens, Oklahoma’s defensive end jam is starting to clear up a little.
Marcus Major and Daylan Smothers became the most recent running backs to leave Oklahoma’s roster when they declared their intention to transfer from the Sooners on Monday. Due to the COVID waiver year, Major, a fifth-year senior, has one more year of eligibility, while Smothers, a true freshman, is redshirted.
Major was a four-star prospect in the 2019 class whose career was impacted by injury. He appeared in 35 games during his five seasons at Oklahoma, making five starts in the backfield for the Sooners. Four of those starts and seven of those appearances came this season, when he rushed for 308 yards and one touchdown while adding a touchdown reception to his line.
He did not appear in any of Oklahoma’s final five games, however, as redshirt freshman Gavin Sawchuk returned from a lingering hamstring injury and finished the season as the Sooners’ lead running back. Walker, meanwhile, finished as Oklahoma’s No. 2 rusher this season while running for 496 yards and seven touchdowns.
Regarding Smothers, the 247Sports Composite rankings had him listed as a four-star prospect in the 2023 class. During fall camp, he briefly left the team, but upon his return, he was well-liked by the Sooners. He only played in four games for Oklahoma, though, and in those games he saw 33 snaps, rushing for 42 yards on 11 carries.
Oklahoma will have three scholarship running backs in 2024 when the team moves to the SEC: Sawchuk, sophomore Jovantae Barnes, and freshman Kalib Hicks (who redshirted this season). This is due to three departures from the running back room. The nation’s top running back recruits, Taylor Tatum and Xavier Robinson, both 2024 commits, are expected to join the Sooners.
