The Oklahoma Sooners are hoping to showcase their revamped rushing attack on Friday at 7:00 p.m. CT on SECN+ against the University of Texas at El Paso Miners. One of the surprises of camp will get to take the field for the first time in the Crimson and Cream, hoping to help with the progress, former Colorado State Rams running back Lloyd Avant.
Avant has totaled just 676 yards in two seasons with Colorado State and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. He's made his most impact on special teams. He led the American Conference in average kick return yards at 28, while taking one back for a touchdown. The feeling is he'd make his most impact on special teams.
However, reports indicate he could be a legit game-changer at running back. Head coach Brent Venables
attributes that to his consistency.
"Incredibly consistent," Venables said. "He's quiet. He's tough. His play is really loud. How he competes is really loud. He didn't miss anything, you know. He's a model of consistency and a low-maintenance dude, and I love that."
The consistency has reportedly made Avant one of the biggest offseason risers in Oklahoma's backfield. Running backs coach Deland McCullough has also pointed to Avant's steady performance as a reason he has pushed himself into the starting conversation.
Avant's emergence gives Oklahoma another intriguing option in a backfield that is expected to look considerably different in 2026. The Sooners have been searching for more consistency on offense, and improving their rushing attack will be an important part of that effort.
If he can carry over his practice production to game days, Oklahoma may have found one of its most valuable offensive surprises before the season even began. Avant's rise would give the Sooners another dependable option in the rushing attack and could ultimately make an already revamped offense deeper and more difficult to defend.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Lloyd Avant brings 'consistency' to Oklahoma's running back room
