Ollie Gordon to Return to Oklahoma State in 2024

Oklahoma State’s most important recruiting job of the offseason is done: Ollie Gordon is returning to Stillwater in 2024.

Gordon announced Sunday his return in a video with OSU president Dr. Kasey Shrum and Pistol Pete.

Let’s do it 🫶🏽🤠 pic.twitter.com/jh3UygF5hf

— Ollie Gordon (@Ollie_Gordon2) December 24, 2023

The Doak Walker winner and unanimous All-American, Gordon leads the country in rushing with 1,614 yards. He also ranks second nationally in rushing touchdowns with 20. Gordon did all of that while logging only 19 carries in OSU’s first three games of the season before taking over the Cowboys’ featured running back role in Week 4. His 1,614 rushing yards rank ninth in a season in program history, and Gordon still has the Texas Bowl to go.

Gordon has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in eight games this season. That includes back-to-back performances of 282 yards against West Virginia and 271 yards against Cincinnati. That 282-yard performance ranks ninth in program history behind games from Barry Sanders (x5), David Thompson, Chuba Hubbard and Thurman Thomas.

In his career, Gordon has eclipsed 100 rushing yards in every game he has at least 15 carries in.

Gordon will enter next season as the reigning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, Doak Walker winner and as a unanimous All-American.

He initially came to OSU as a four-star recruit out of Euless-Trinity High School (TX), where he rushed for 2,478 yards and 35 touchdowns as a senior. He was the No. 238 player in the 2022 recruiting class and chose OSU over offers from Texas, Arkansas, Michigan, TCU and others.

Gordon carried 62 times as a true freshman at OSU in 2022, where he had 308 yards and two touchdowns. He also showed glimpses of being a dangerous weapon in the passing game, catching 12 balls for 76 yards and two others scores. His best game as a freshman came in the regular-season finale against West Virginia, where in an Oklahoma rain storm, Gordon had 17 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown to set up his breakout sophomore year.

Opposing Coaches on Gordon

Neal Brown, West Virginia: “I think the difference for them has been Ollie Gordon at running back. He was special last week [against Kansas], and he’s a tough tackle. Runs as hard as anybody in our league.”

Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati: “Here’s the unique thing about this back — he’s a big back, he’s 6-1, 211 [pounds]. He looks bigger on film. But he’s got some speed. This guy, when he breaks out and gets to the second level, you see DBs just falling to the ground and him hitting the sideline and going to the house. He’s got eight rushing touchdowns.

“He is a talented running back that when he hits the second level, he can take it the distance, so you have to be able to try to hem him up and not let him get loose out in the secondary because the teams he’s played in the last few weeks, they haven’t tackled him.”

Brent Venables, Oklahoma: “Ollie Gordon has just been fantastic. He’s got power. He’s got speed. He’s patient. He’s got great quickness — lateral quickness. Man, he’s explosive. He can run right through you and can run right by you.

“Ollie, he’s just so powerful. He’s got a nice spin move and does a good job in pass protection. He mows down a lot of people in pass pro, as well. His patience for a big guy is something that’s a little different. He’s not just power. He’s got speed. In the hole, he can make you miss. He makes a lot of people miss. He breaks a lot of tackles, but he makes a lot of people miss — just excellent feet.”

Gus Malzhan, UCF: “You can tell early in the year, they were trying to figure — now they know. They’re gonna give it to that big dude, and he can run it downhill. Fourth quarter, he imposes his will on people.”

Steve Sarkisian, Texas: “Ollie Gordon is a heck of a player, and they have done a great job offensively of leaning into him. He really signifies who their team is. I feel like he gets stronger as the game goes on, like a lot of big, physical backs do. A lot of his best runs come in the second half when teams wear down. He has the hard yards, the tough yards in between the tackles, but yet he has the big play, explosive play ability to create those long runs.