DeMarco Murray discusses Oklahoma running back room

DeMarco Murray has worked as the running backs coach at his alma mater since 2020, and he opted to stay at Oklahoma amid coaching turnover after Lincoln Riley’s departure and Brent Venables’ arrival. Despite the continuity between coach and players, the new offensive ideas of offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby promise to shake things up for everyone in the room.

In a piece published by the Tulsa World, many Oklahoma assistants discussed the recent changes and how they have coped with the turnover. DeMarco Murray painted a promising picture of the Oklahoma running backs room which returns one of its key contributors and adds a pair of freshmen.

“We’re being led by Eric Gray and Marcus Major and adding a young guy like Jovantae Barnes, who brings a different dimension to our room,” Murray said. “Gavin Sawchuk will be here later on.”

The Sooners lost leading rusher Kennedy Brooks to the NFL Draft after he posted 1,253 rushing yards in 2021 with 13 touchdowns. Gray finished second among running backs – and third overall behind Caleb Williams – with 412 yards on 78 carries and added two touchdowns.

Despite losing so much of the production from the previous year, Murray believes his running backs can trend in the right direction and fill holes ahead of 2022.

“I’m excited, more importantly, to get a full spring and a full summer under my belt with these guys. These guys have picked (the offense) up and are holding their own meetings being led by Eric Gray.”

DeMarco Murray on Eric Gray

The Oklahoma Sooners are getting ready to let former Tennessee Volunteers leading running back Eric Gray loose in 2022 under new leadership. Running backs coach DeMarco Murray believes the second-year Sooner will be good to go come September, despite learning a new playbook for the second year in a row. Murray even went so far as to say the running back may know new offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby’s system better than he does.

“He’s done a terrific job,” Murray said of Gray this week ahead of spring practice. “Even last year, he learned a new system and picked it up in a week or two. He may know the new system better than I do. He’s handling it the right way.”

Gray finished with 772 yards rushing and four touchdowns in the 2020 season for Tennessee, finishing 6th in the SEC that year. His production fell off in 2021, rushing behind the Sooners’ leading back Kennedy Brooks. Gray posted 412 yards and two scores on 78 carries.