Oklahoma State Running Back Ollie Gordon Declares for the NFL Draft

About midway through the 2023 season, it seemed likely that Ollie Gordon was headed to the pros after the 2024 season. He confirmed that on Friday.

Gordon, a junior running back, declared for the NFL Draft. In three seasons in Stillwater, Gordon ran for 2,920 yards and 36 touchdowns. He became the program’s first Doak Walker winner in 2023 when he led the nation in rushing with 1,732 yards to go with 21 touchdowns. Also a threat in the receiving game, Gordon caught 80 passes in his career for 585 yards and four touchdowns.

Forever loyal and true 🤠🧡 pic.twitter.com/SHE4MxeNMJ

— Ollie Gordon (@Ollie_Gordon2) December 6, 2024

“Oklahoma State, it’s been an amazing run,” Gordon wrote. “From day one, I knew I was in the right place. The love, support, and family I’ve gained here will always be a part of me. …

“Now, it’s time to take the next step in living out my dream. I’m excited to announce that I am officially declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.”

Out of the DFW area, Gordon was a four-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. He chose OSU over offers from Michigan, Texas, Arkansas and others.

People got a glimpse of what Gordon was capable of as a true freshman in 2022 when he ran for 308 yards and two touchdowns. He had a breakout performance against West Virginia in a rainstorm, where Gordon ran for 136 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

The Cowboys were still trying to figure out who they were heading into 2023. Rotating a lot at myriad positions, Gordon had just 19 total carries in the first three games of his sophomore season, but once the Cowboys finally started handing him the rock, the Pokes started winning. Gordon ran for 1,471 yards and 18 touchdowns in a nine-game stretch to close the regular season. There was a three-game stretch within that which saw Gordon have 168 rushing yards and 116 receiving yards against Kansas, run for 282 yards and four touchdowns against West Virginia and run for 271 yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati.

Along with winning the Doak Walker, Gordon was a unanimous All-American in 2023 and was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year by the league’s coaches and the AP. Gordon won the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award and finished seventh in Heisman voting.

It was tougher sledding for Gordon, and the Cowboys as a whole, in 2024, but Gordon still managed to run for 880 yards and 13 touchdowns and didn’t miss a game despite the season taking a turn for the worst, saying he finishes what he starts.

Should Gordon be drafted, which is definitely expected, he would be the next in a long list of OSU running backs to make it in the NFL, joining Justice Hill, Chuba Hubbard and Jaylen Warren in the league.