OU Has Replaced Samaje Perine, Joe Mixon With Three-Headed Rush Attack

The biggest question mark coming into the 2017 season for Oklahoma — outside of, y’know, replacing Bob Stoops — was how it would go about replacing the production of NFL running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon.

The Thunder and Lightning for OU’s backfield rained down with a force in Bedlam over the last two seasons, rushing for a combined 605 (!!) yards between the two in 2015 and 2016 against the Pokes.

And while the Sooners, at least right now, don’t have one specific back that is at the same level of Mixon or Perine, they do have a three-headed attack lead by Rodney Anderson that has proven to be plenty productive.

Here’s a look at the top 3 rushers for OU this season.

Now, looking at this, your initial reaction is probably: Wow, that true freshman Sermon is RB1?! That’s nuts. But … not true. Sermon was used liberally with a combined 50 carries in a three-game stretch earlier this season, but the last two games he’s logged just 4 total carries, including a big, fat nothing burger in the stat sheet against Texas Tech this past weekend.

That opportunity has shifted almost entirely to the man sitting at third on this list: Rodney Anderson. Anderson had a combined 12 carries on the season before OU fell to Iowa State, but in the three games since, he’s logged 53 carries, rushed for 376 yards, and scored 3 TDs, including a game-winner against K-State a week ago.

Sermon’s a power back who OU has smartly used in late-game situations to wear down defenses, Adams is a shifty change-of-pace, and Anderson is a combination of the two with explosiveness and power to boot.

So don’t let a glance at the season statistics fool you: Rodney Anderson is the big challenge out of the backfield OSU is likely going to face on Saturday. And if recent weeks are any indication, the Pokes will see a heavy dosage of No. 24.