Ollie Gordon II: The Unseen Heisman Contender Leading Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II won the 2023 Doak Walker Award as the best running back in the nation. He was also named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, beating out Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers for the honor. Additionally, he was a unanimous All-American and finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting, the highest of any running back in the top 10.

Despite these achievements, Gordon is still somewhat of a secret in college football, according to Las Vegas oddsmakers. In the latest Heisman Trophy futures, Gordon had +15000 odds to win, placing him 53rd on the list. This put him alongside Nebraska freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin.

The Heisman Trophy is often awarded to quarterbacks, with seven of the last eight winners playing that position. The only non-quarterback to win recently was Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who excelled at catching passes. A running back hasn’t won the Heisman since Derrick Henry in 2015, and even then, he received only 65.7% of the vote.

Gordon deserves to be in the Heisman conversation and could even be a frontrunner. He has the potential to be the key player for Oklahoma State, a team with conference championship hopes and College Football Playoff aspirations. In 2023, when Oklahoma State reached the Big 12 Championship Game, Gordon was crucial to their success.

For example, the Cowboys lost four games in 2023, and Gordon had fewer than 100 yards rushing in three of those losses. His lowest performance was against South Alabama, where he had just three carries for 12 yards, and Oklahoma State lost 33-7. In the team’s wins, Gordon averaged 154 rushing yards per game.

Gordon’s contributions were significant. He was responsible for more than one-third of Oklahoma State’s total offensive production. He had 285 rushing attempts in 2023, the third-most among all FBS players, and averaged nearly 6.1 yards per carry, leading all running backs with at least 230 carries.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and over 215 pounds, Gordon was one of the most explosive players in the game. He led the nation in rushes of 20 and 30 yards and tied for the most runs of 40 yards or more. Some critics might say Oklahoma State’s scheme and veteran offensive line boosted his performance, but Gordon gained 1,056 of his 1,732 rushing yards after contact.

There are concerns about Gordon’s heavy usage and the injuries he sustained last season, though none were serious enough to keep him out of a full game. For instance, in a game against Houston, he returned from an injury to finish with 164 yards and three touchdowns.

Gordon is a key player, but he’s not the only one contributing to Oklahoma State’s success. The team returns 85% of its production from their 10-win season, and their offensive line, ranked No. 1 by 247Sports, has over 200 combined starts. This strong support will help pave the way for Gordon’s rushing attack.

With Oklahoma and Texas no longer in the conference, the Big 12 is wide open. Oklahoma State has the pieces to push for a title and possibly their first College Football Playoff appearance. If Gordon leads them there, he could find himself at the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York. Despite what the preseason odds say, he won’t stay a secret for long.

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Eric Boggs

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