Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II received the 2023 Doak Walker Award as the most effective working again within the nation. He was the Massive 12 Offensive Participant of the 12 months (besting the likes of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers for the honour), a unanimous All-American and he completed seventh in Heisman Trophy voting, the very best of three working backs that positioned within the high 10. 

And he is nonetheless school soccer’s best-kept secret; in accordance with Las Vegas oddsmakers, that’s. 

In the latest run of Heisman Trophy futures, Gordon was tagged with +15000 odds to take residence the game’s high particular person award. That put him 53rd on the listing of eligible athletes, alongside the likes of Nebraska true freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, who’s anticipated to again up beginning sign caller Will Howard in his first 12 months with the Buckeyes.

In fact, the Heisman is a quarterback-slanted award. Seven of the final eight winners have made their identify tossing the ball across the discipline. The one non-QB to win the Heisman in that span — former Alabama vast receiver DeVonta Smith — stood out as a result of he was elite at catching these passes thrown by quarterbacks. 

A working again hasn’t received the Heisman since 2015, when Derrick Henry carried Alabama to a Faculty Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship. Even then he garnered simply 65.7% of the vote, the bottom mark for a Heisman winner since 2011.  

No matter latest traits, Gordon should not simply be within the Heisman dialog; he must be an early front-runner. He has the potential to comply with in that Henry mildew as a very powerful participant on a staff with convention championship aspirations and Faculty Soccer Playoff upside. 

As a result of if Oklahoma State needs to achieve these targets, it’s going to comply with Gordon. He was the engine that drove the Cowboys to the 2023 Massive 12 Championship Recreation. 

Want some proof? The Cowboys misplaced 4 video games in 2023. Gordon had fewer than 100 yards speeding in three of them. 

His season-low in carries got here towards South Alabama, when he touched the ball simply 3 times for 12 yards. The Cowboys misplaced 33-7 as seven-point favorites. Gordon averaged 154 yards on the bottom in Oklahoma State’s wins. 

His offensive contribution in comparison with Oklahoma State’s staff totals is eye-popping. 

To condense these numbers, Gordon was liable for greater than one-third of Oklahoma State’s whole offensive manufacturing. That is an absurd price for a participant who would not have the ball in his fingers on each offensive snap. 

Not that Gordon lacked alternative. He tallied 285 whole speeding makes an attempt, third-most amongst all FBS gamers in 2023. That is immense quantity, however he has loads of high quality to match that amount. 

Gordon averaged slightly below 6.1 yards per contact, first amongst working backs with a minimal of 230 carries. He was the one working again within the nation to common six yards per keep on greater than 20 carries per recreation. 

At 6-foot-2 and north of 215 kilos, Gordon additionally occurred to be one of the explosive gamers within the sport. He led the nation in rushes of a minimum of 20 and 30 yards and tied for the lead with seven 40-plus-yard runs. He was additionally one in every of six simply gamers, no matter place, with two runs of greater than 70 yards. 

Some detractors, or people who are inclined to devalue working backs within the fashionable recreation, could level to scheme or Oklahoma State’s veteran offensive line as the principle catalysts behind Gordon’s manufacturing. Whereas these elements absolutely performed a task, 1,056 of Gordon’s 1,732 yards speeding got here after contact. He was powerful to convey down with a head of steam and sometimes required a number of defenders to lastly drag him to the bottom. 

There are additionally issues over Oklahoma State’s utilization of Gordon and the appreciable mileage he is already piled up. He was injured on three separate events final season, although not one of the setbacks have been severe sufficient to maintain him sidelined for a whole recreation. 

Even with an ailment, he is proven he’ll put all of it on the market for the Cowboys. In final November’s win towards Houston, Gordon exited the sport close to the top of the primary half when he could not put any weight on one in every of his legs. He returned within the third quarter and completed with 164 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries. 

Gordon often is the crown jewel, however he is not the one essential piece Oklahoma State returns. The Cowboys convey again 85% of their manufacturing from the 10-win season, per ESPN. Oklahoma State’s offensive line, which 247Sports ranked No. 1 within the nation getting into the 2024 season, boasts over 200 mixed begins. They’re going to pave the best way for that Gordon-led speeding assault. 

With Oklahoma and Texas out of the fold, the Massive 12 is extra vast open than ever. The Cowboys have all of the items to push for a title, which might give them a ticket to their first Faculty Soccer Playoff. If Gordon’s on the middle of that journey, that might imply a visit to New York for December’s Heisman Trophy ceremony. 

He’ll be not possible to disregard any longer, it doesn’t matter what preseason odds could recommend.