On Thursday, the Oklahoma football program experienced its first significant loss to the transfer portal. The OU backfield took a hit when a critical offensive weapon became the fourth Sooner (D.J. Graham, Marcus Hicks, and Jason Llewellyn) to join the transfer portal. Per On3 Sports, running back Tawee Walker entered his name into the transfer portal.
BREAKING: Oklahoma RB Tawee Walker plans to enter the Transfer Portal, he tells @on3sports
The 5’9 215 RB had 95 carries for 496 yards (5.2 YPC) & 7 TDs this year for the Sooners (0 career fumbles)
Will be a true senior next yearhttps://t.co/CfO3MERgIX pic.twitter.com/qpyCqBUT52
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) November 30, 2023
The transfer portal has become congested over the last week, with numerous players publically announcing they plan to change schools. However, alongside former Miami running back Donald Chaney and grad transfer Treshaun Ward, Walker immediately becomes one of the best backs available via the portal.
RB Tawee Walker: Bruising Presence for Oklahoma Football
Tawee Walker started his college career at the JC level before walking on with Oklahoma football. Walker played his final high school season at Arizona Power Centennial before rushing for 875 yards and eight touchdowns as a freshman at Palomar Junior College. The Nevada native played sparingly last season, his first with the Sooners, rushing 18 times for 62 yards.
However, Walker made massive strides forward this season, his second under former offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. The five-foot-nine, 219-pound back scampered for 496 yards and seven scores in 11 games this season while maintaining a healthy 5.2 yards per rush attempt. He also caught eight passes for 69 yards. Walker’s best moments came during his team’s two-game losing streak to Kansas and Oklahoma State. Despite the Sooners faltering, Walker shined, combining for 205 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 31 carries.
Oklahoma Football: Running Back Room with New Offensive Coordinators Joe Jon Finley and Seth Littrell
Former North Texas head coach turned Oklahoma assistant Seth Littrell and longtime Sooner Joe Jon Finley will control the Oklahoma offense next season. However, they will do so without this season’s second-leading rusher, Tawee Walker. Gavin Sawchuk is the leading candidate to take on the lead back role, rushing for 610 yards and eight touchdowns this season. Meanwhile, senior Marcus Major has an extra year of eligibility, thanks to the COVID-19 shortened season. He has 78 carries for 308 yards and one score in seven games.
Alongside Sawchuk, Jovantae Barnes and Daylan Smothers were two other underclassmen this season. Barnes, a four-star prospect from the 2022 class, has averaged 4.3 yards per rush attempt with six touchdowns during his two seasons with the Sooners. Meanwhile, Smothers was a three-star commit who joined OU this season. However, they have one of the top running backs in the country earmarked for next season, with five-star Taylor Tatum giving the Sooners the “hard commit” last July.
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