Skip to main content
Oklahoma

Crimson Countdown: No. 2 Jovantae Barnes

Eddie On3by: Eddie Radosevich08/28/25
Jovantae Barnes
Oklahoma RB Jovantae Barnes looks for running room during OU fall camp Aug. 1, 2025. Photo - Carey Murdock/SoonerScoop

The Crimson Countdown is officially on for the 2025 Oklahoma football season. Everybody wants to forget about 2024 and move forward.

Head coach Brent Venables and staff have attempted to do that. New face calling the offense (Ben Arbuckle). Venables calling the defense, it’s now or never for this regime at OU in the SEC. No beating around the bush.

Every day as we get closer to kickoff, SoonerScoop.com will count down the days with you. Starting with No. 99 and working our way to No. 0, we’ll be there every step of the way.

Crimson Countdown: No. 2 Jovantae Barnes

2024 stats: 

Played in nine games, making six starts, rushing for 577 yards and five touchdowns. Also caught 17 passes for 123 yards and one score. Missed the final four games of the season with a foot injury. 

2025 outlook: 

Here we are again. Sort of seems like familiar territory. Days before the start of a season and there’s buzz surrounding the- now- elder statesman of the Sooners running back room Jovantae Barnes.

While most figured Cal transfer Jaydn Ott would be the name atop the Sooners running back depth chart, it was Barnes who’s listed first on the team’s initial depth chart. Most importantly, Barnes along with freshman Tory Blaylock have been able to avoid the injury tent.

Before missing the final four games of the season, Barnes turned in a career-high 203 yards on the ground versus Maine. Reports out of preseason camp indicate he’s running the ball well. He’s the unquestioned leader of DeMarco Murray’s position unit.

While it does need to get healthy, the running back room seems crowded on paper. Ben Arbuckle mentioned staying with the hot hand in press conference on Tuesday. It’ll be Barnes that gets the first carry to do so.

2025 running back outlook: 

Not many people were looking at OU adding anything to this room after spring practice. It felt like a pretty stacked group as it was. However, the Sooners saw a chance and made it happen with former Cal star Jaydn Ott. While Ott was thought to be the leading candidate to find himself atop the Sooners depth chart, it was Jovantae Barnes and Tory Blaylock that got the nod. There’s no cause of concern for now. Ott battled a shoulder injury that sidelined him for portions of camp. Barnes and Blaylock were consistent in availability throughout the preseason. Xavier Robinson and Taylor Tatum certainly should figure into DeMarco Murray’s room when healthy. 

You may also like