NORMAN — As the Oklahoma Sooners prepare for the 2026 season, a lesser-known transfer is staking a claim to the top spot in the running-back rotation. Lloyd Avant, who arrived after stops at Colorado State and Tulsa, has been receiving first-team snaps during early fall activities and could play a pivotal role in a unit that needs to improve its ground game.
Opportunity in a renewed run game
Oklahoma coaches have emphasized the running game as a key area of improvement heading into the season. For the Sooners to confirm they are more than a one-year success, a more consistent rushing attack will be essential. That requires production from the backfield, better run blocking up front, tight end support and a scheme that sustains carries.
Into that environment stepped Avant, who didn’t arrive with the same preseason buzz as returning contributors Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson or the highly touted true freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. Still, multiple reports from fall practice indicate Avant has been lining up with the first unit and taking the bulk of early reps.
Transfer résumé and special-teams value
Avant’s collegiate production before joining the Sooners was modest but multi-faceted. Across two seasons split between Colorado State and Tulsa, he totaled 676 rushing yards and six touchdowns. His most notable skill at the previous stops came as a kickoff returner: in 2024 he led the American Athletic Conference with a kickoff-return average of 28 yards.
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Rushing yards (career at Colorado State/Tulsa) | 676 |
| Rushing touchdowns | 6 |
| Kickoff-return average (2024) | 28 yards |
Coaches and camp context
National observers monitoring Oklahoma’s camp have noticed the change in the pecking order. On3 analyst J.D. PicKell said on The Hard Count that Avant “has been getting running back one reps so far,” while also raising questions about how the rotation will look once pads are on and contact becomes a regular part of practices.
“Lloyd Avant, transfer running back, has been getting running back one reps so far,” On3’s J.D. PicKell said on 'The Hard Count.'
That caveat is important. Early reps in non-padded practices are a common way for coaches to evaluate technique, decision-making and comfort with a playbook, but the true test often comes when physicality increases and the season approaches.
What Avant brings and what remains to be seen
Avant’s skill set suggests versatility. He can contribute as a runner between the tackles, offer pass-protection snaps and provide value on special teams as a return option. For a team still seeking a dependable rushing identity, that mix could be valuable.
- Versatility: Proven ability as a kick returner and experience in multiple roles.
- Immediate opportunity: First-team reps indicate coaches are giving him a real look.
- Competition remains: Blaylock, Robinson and incoming freshman talent still figure into the rotation.
How Avant performs once pads are on will be closely watched. Coaches and fans will want to see whether his early practice advantage holds up when blockers and defenders are tackling at full speed and when game-type drills simulate the wear of an entire season.
Implications for the Sooners
If Avant continues to hold first-team snaps and translates practice performance to games, the Sooners would gain another legitimate rushing option in a backfield that already has intriguing pieces. That development could be particularly consequential for Oklahoma if the team hopes to demonstrate it can sustain a balanced attack against the top defenses it will face during the schedule.
But the margin for error is slim. The Sooners’ ground game has been identified as a necessary area of improvement, and whoever emerges as the lead back must deliver consistent production to help the team advance its postseason goals.
For now, the early signs show Lloyd Avant making a quiet but significant push — one that could alter Oklahoma’s offensive outlook if it survives the physical tests of fall camp and transfers to game-day success.
