Why OU football RB Lloyd Avant is early leader for Sooners in 2026 preaseason

NORMAN — New Oklahoma running backs coach Deland McCullough made waves earlier this week with his comments about Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant entering training camp.

McCullough said the 5-foot-10 junior was the back who consistently graded the highest at the position group throughout the offseason. With a unit that includes returning producers such as Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson, as well as talented freshmen Jonathan Hatton Jr. and DeZephen Walker, some were surprised by Avant’s early impact.

But Avant balled out during spring ball while Blaylock and Robinson were out with injuries.

“To get on the field for me, you have to grade at 85% or better, to even have a chance to play,” McCullough said. “And Lloyd has been grading at 94, 95% at a very consistent level. I struggle to find something that Lloyd messed up on twice. … He’s a poster child for the details.”

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Despite Avant — who rushed for 417 yards and five touchdowns in 2025 and also projects as a special teams contributor — being the early leader at the position, McCullough made clear snaps are up for grabs at running back during camp. In fact, when asked about position battles on the Oklahoma Breakdown podcast, general manager Jim Nagy mentioned running back first. 

While the Sooners have a pretty good idea what all the other positions will look like, running back might be the most intriguing competition this month. Blaylock and Robinson will surely factor into the equation as the most experienced players.

Both played through injury last season but Robinson started each of OU’s final four regular season contests and finished the season rushing for 421 yards and four touchdowns.

As a true freshman, Blaylock made six starts and led the way for OU during the first half of the season. He became the first Sooners freshman running back to register a 100-yard rushing effort in at least one of his first three games since DeMarco Murray in 2007. 

“Tory’s fast, he was tough in pass protection,” McCullough said of Blaylock’s 2025 tape. “He ran with speed, he ran with power. He was a tough guy, he played with injury. So those are some things right there. The guy has a toughness, care and a give-a-dang factor that is honorable. The next step that Tory took is the detail of what we do now. 

“He was so excited about that detail. He was like, ‘Man, I never really heard that.’ … He had never had those things as part of his arsenal. So when you take somebody like Tory and you give him those tools you should see some really good things.”

Despite playing through injury, Blaylock recorded 480 yards and four touchdowns and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team.

Heading into his second training camp, Blaylock feels much more comfortable after being thrown into the fire last season. He has immersed himself in the details McCullough preaches and has set high expectations for his sophomore season.

“I’m more seasoned,” Blaylock said. “I played one year, came in fresh out of high school, had good coaches and a good room. But this year is just a little different. Knowing the history of who (McCullough) coached, watching the stuff that he’s teaching me — the footwork, watching Jeremiyah Love and Ashton Jeanty do it. The proof is in the pudding.”

“The next step that Tory takes is the detail of what we do now.”#Sooners running backs coach Deland McCullough was impressed with Tory Blaylock’s freshman tape but is excited to dive into the details with him during camp. pic.twitter.com/HBcNhyNoE4

— Colton Sulley (@colton_sulley) August 4, 2026

In addition to Avant, Blaylock and Robinson, expect the two youngsters to push for playing time.

Hatton and Walker also put together great offseasons and were the stars of the spring game, combining for over 100 yards and two touchdowns. Hatton, a four-star recruit, was ranked as a top 10 running back in the 2026 class by every major recruiting site.

Wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III, one of the fastest players on OU’s roster, raved about Hatton’s speed entering camp.

“Those three guys (Walker, Hatton and Avant), it was priceless the reps that they were able to get during spring ball,” offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle said. “Selfishly you would love for all of your guys to be out there for spring ball every single day getting those reps, but for those three guys in specific and those two young guys, priceless. 

“The different reps, different moments that they got put in, sometimes learning by fire out there, I’d rather it happen in the spring with those guys than if we need them during the fall season. Excited with how they went about learning, how coach McCullough went about teaching them and splitting up the reps to make sure that everybody was touching a different part of what the running back room requires.”

Improving on the ground was a huge emphasis for coach Brent Venables and his staff this offseason. With offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh, assistant head coach for offense Kevin Wilson and McCullough all pitching in to help Arbuckle, the Sooners are expecting to see a tangible difference during camp.

While Avant would be the first running back to trot out onto the field if OU played a game this week, make no mistake, a competitive battle is ahead.

“I’m really excited about that room,” Arbuckle said. “Continue to look for them when they get the ball to run violent, run with purpose downhill and obviously be clean in pass protection, be in sync with the quarterback and offensive line in that regard, find their ways into the pass game whether it’s check downs and stuff like that. 

“Everything that the running back room requires, excited to watch that entire room continue to grow and excited with the expertise and level of detail that Coach McCullough brings to those guys.”

Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why OU football RB Lloyd Avant is early leader for Sooners in 2026 preaseason