OU’s running back room is experiencing a coaching transition this spring.
Following the departure of former running backs coach DeMarco Murray during the offseason, head coach Brent Venables hired Deland McCullough to guide the group as the program prepares for another season in the Southeastern Conference.
McCullough arrives in Norman with a lengthy resume that includes stops at Notre Dame and Indiana, as well as one year in the NFL with the Las Vegas Raiders. The move marked a return to the college game after McCullough spent a year working under Raiders coach Pete Carroll.
“I wanted to go to the Raiders with Pete because I wanted to learn under a defensive-minded hall of fame head coach,” McCullough said. “I always let everybody know … my whole thing with going to the NFL was to become a better college coach. I was always coming back to college.”
Now in Norman, McCullough inherits a running back group that includes returning players like sophomore Xavier Robinson and freshman Tory Blaylock, along with newcomers like sophomore Colorado State transfer Lloyd Avant and incoming freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr.
Improving the rushing attack has been a key offseason emphasis for OU. The Sooners’ yards per carry declined in each of the past three seasons, which McCullough believes can be addressed through greater attention to detail.
“My track record has shown that, regardless of what's going on, we’re going to have a strong running game,” McCullough said. “I think from the running back perspective, giving those guys the details, the reads, the specifics on routes, the technique, all of the technical aspects that the guys here want, … they're excited to have that.”
Beyond refining technique, McCullough is focused on building depth.
“There's nine jobs in a running back room. … If two guys are doing all those jobs, I did a bad job,” McCullough said. “I have five guys play to fill these jobs.”
Avant, who works to carve out a role, arrives in Norman after spending 2025 at Colorado State, where he played all 12 games and led the Rams with five rushing touchdowns. The sophomore carried the ball 90 times for 417 yards and added another dimension to the offense as a receiver, catching 24 passes for 261 yards.
As he adjusts to a new program and position coach, Avant said McCullough’s experience has already made an impression.
“He's a hardworking coach. He's seen it all,” Avant said. “He's been with backs in the league, and he just knows the guys. So, sticking with coach McCullough, knowing that if I stick to the process, do everything right, everything will come.”
Avant also made an impact on special teams for Colorado State, recording 268 kickoff return yards and averaging more than 24 yards per return. During the 2024 season opener against Northwestern State, Avant returned a kickoff 100 yards for his first collegiate touchdown.
“I'm coming in just to do a job that's special teams and offense, however coach wants to utilize me,” Avant said.
His transition to OU was also eased by familiar faces on the coaching staff. Avant played for assistant head coach for offense Kevin Wilson at Tulsa during his freshman year. McCullough also has an established relationship with Wilson, working under him for five seasons at Indiana when Wilson was the Hoosiers’ head coach.
“Knowing that (McCullough) and coach Wilson had a little connection there kind of gave me a little connection with him too,” Avant said. “I could come in and just learn from him and coach Wilson at the same time.”
Hatton had developed some familiarity with McCullough during the recruiting process as a high school prospect. The running backs coach attempted to recruit Hatton while he was at Notre Dame. Hatton originally committed to OU earlier in the recruiting cycle, briefly reopened his recruitment and recommitted late in his senior year.
He said the relationships he built with OU’s coaching staff made the program feel like the right place.
“At the end, it felt like this was the best fit for me,” Hatton said. “I'm excited for it.”
Hatton joins a running back group that has recently seen younger players earn early opportunities. Young players, such as Blaylock and Robinson, have cracked the rotation in the past two seasons.
Hatton said those examples, along with their advice, have helped him understand what it will take to earn snaps.
“(Blaylock) has been giving me advice on what I need to do — making sure I’m good with plays and everything, helping me with what he did,” Hatton said.
As spring practices continue, OU’s running back room remains a work in progress, but for McCullough, the early weeks are about establishing the foundation he believes will allow the group to succeed.
“I'm excited to see what we do out there on the field, but right now, I got to continue to work details, continue to get these guys to buy in,” McCullough said. “I told them every day, ‘What I'm doing is earning their trust.’”
This story was edited by Joshua McDaniel.
