Oklahoma running back Gavin Sawchuk has entered the transfer portal, according to multiple reports.
Sawchuk led the Sooners in yards rushing in 2023, running for 744 and nine touchdowns during his sophomore season. He ended the year with five straight 100-yard days after taking over for Jovantae Barnes midseason. He couldn’t replicate those totals last year. Injuries and Oklahoma’s poor offensive performance in general, limited Sawchuk to 128 yards and a touchdown. That yardage total ranked seventh on the team and fifth among running backs.
The Sooners retained their three leading rushers from last year in Jovantae Barnes, Taylor Tatum, and Xavier Robinson. None of the trio played in every game last year, however, for a running back room that struggled with injuries all season. Barnes finished the season as the team leader in yards rushing (577) and rushing touchdowns (5) but ended up with just 122 carries on the season.
Oklahoma felt the need to get further help at the position in the spring transfer portal window. The Sooners landed Jadyn Ott from Cal to challenge for the No. 1 role in the fall. Ott would have finished as OU’s No. 2 running back last year as he ran for 385 yards and four touchdowns while battling an ankle injury all season. Ott’s totaled 3,333 yards and 30 touchdowns during his collegiate career.
Sawchuk is the second Sooners running back to enter the transfer portal since it re-opened after spring practices. Sam Franklin, who transferred in from Tennessee-Martin during the 2024 cycle, played just one season for OU, running for 132 yards on 18 carries.
Oklahoma running back Gavin Sawchuk is expected to enter the transfer portal, sources tell @GeorgeStoia and I.
Former four-star recruit has rushed for 977 career yards and 11 touchdowns. https://t.co/QzMkUTsC83pic.twitter.com/NJHZyODYIN
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) April 26, 2025
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma’s former four-star running back entering transfer portal