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

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

In the newest run of Heisman Trophy futures, Gordon was tagged with +15000 odds to take house the game’s high particular person award. That put him 53rd on the record 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 title tossing the ball across the discipline. The one non-QB to win the Heisman in that span — former Alabama broad receiver DeVonta Smith — stood out as a result of he was elite at catching these passes thrown by quarterbacks. 

A operating 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 current traits, Gordon should not simply be within the Heisman dialog; he must be an early front-runner. He has the potential to observe in that Henry mildew as crucial participant on a workforce with convention championship aspirations and Faculty Soccer Playoff upside. 

As a result of if Oklahoma State needs to succeed in these targets, it would observe Gordon. He was the engine that drove the Cowboys to the 2023 Large 12 Championship Sport. 

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

His season-low in carries got here in opposition to 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 workforce totals is eye-popping. 

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

Not that Gordon lacked alternative. He tallied 285 complete dashing 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 just below 6.1 yards per contact, first amongst operating backs with a minimal of 230 carries. He was the one operating again within the nation to common six yards per keep on greater than 20 carries per sport. 

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 at the least 20 and 30 yards and tied for the lead with seven 40-plus-yard runs. He was additionally considered one of six simply gamers, no matter place, with two runs of greater than 70 yards. 

Some detractors, or those who are likely to devalue operating backs within the fashionable sport, might 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 dashing got here after contact. He was robust to deliver down with a head of steam and sometimes required a number of defenders to lastly drag him to the bottom. 

There are additionally considerations 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 had been critical sufficient to maintain him sidelined for a whole sport. 

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

Gordon would be the crown jewel, however he is not the one essential piece Oklahoma State returns. The Cowboys deliver 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 will pave the way in which for that Gordon-led dashing assault. 

With Oklahoma and Texas out of the fold, the Large 12 is extra broad 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 heart of that journey, that might imply a visit to New York for December’s Heisman Trophy ceremony. 

He’ll be unattainable to disregard any longer, it doesn’t matter what preseason odds might counsel.