NORMAN — A team can never have too many good running backs. But a team can have too few chances to get the ball to all its good running backs.
That — aside from choosing a starting quarterback — will be the hardest part of Kevin Wilson's job as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator this season.
"It's going to be hard to divide all the snaps,” said redshirt freshman Mossis Madu, who along with senior Jacob Gutierrez will likely be on the low end of the handoff count.
"(Running backs coach Cale) Gundy has told me he knows I'm going to play, and every time I get the ball I make something happen. So he's told me not to worry, he's going to get me in the game.”
Just how much Madu — or any of the tailbacks — will play is hard to predict. With senior Allen Patrick returning, along with sophomore Chris Brown, even spring star DeMarco Murray will be limited in his touches.
"It's fun, though,” said Murray, who head coach Bob Stoops called the team's best big-play threat. "We all have similar talents, and we all have different talents. We're all working hard, day-in and day-out, rooting for each other.”
Patrick sees the varying talents and styles of the running backs as an additional weapon.
"You're never gonna be able to take the same angles at any of us,” Patrick said. "With each guy, the role changes on the defense. It will just switch it up throughout the whole game.”
