As Oklahoma State football turns the page to a new chapter in 2025, the spotlight that once gleamed so brightly on a single superstar now diffuses across a crowded, competitive, and curiously underrated running back room. With Ollie Gordon II — the 2023 Doak Walker Award winner and a true face of the program — now preparing for his NFL future, the Cowboys face the formidable task of not only replacing an elite talent but also rebuilding confidence in a program that unexpectedly fell apart last season.
A year ago, Oklahoma State entered the season with Big 12 title hopes, national buzz, and a backfield that looked ready to dominate. By the end of the 2024 campaign, the Cowboys had stumbled to a 3-win finish, winless in Big 12 play, and searching for answers across nearly every position. But as the dust settles from that collapse, a surprising truth has emerged: the 2025 running back room might be one of the most intriguing and potentially dynamic position groups on the roster.
Goodbye, Ollie. Hello, Uncertainty — and Opportunity.
There’s no sugarcoating the loss of Gordon. In three seasons, he piled up 2,920 rushing yards, numerous accolades, and unforgettable moments that etched his name into Oklahoma State lore. Replacing a player like that isn’t just a matter of finding another runner — it’s about rediscovering an identity. But while the shadow he leaves is enormous, the room he left behind isn’t barren. In fact, it’s one of the most crowded and unpredictable groups in the Big 12.
The Cowboys enter 2025 with a mix of returning talent, fresh transfers, redshirted youth, and one promising high school signee, all vying for a spot atop the depth chart. And that competition is exactly what this team needs.
Veteran Experience + Young Potential = Depth
Freddie Brock, a redshirt senior transfer from Georgia State, looks like the early favorite to win the RB1 job. His 2024 season with the Panthers — 819 yards on the ground and eight rushing touchdowns, along with 166 receiving yards — showed his ability to carry a high-volume workload and contribute in multiple facets. The real question is whether that production can translate to Big 12 competition. If it does, Brock could serve as the reliable engine this offense desperately needs.
But Brock won’t be alone.
Behind him, redshirt freshman Rodney Fields Jr. is the name that keeps popping up — and for good reason. In limited action last season, Fields flashed electric playmaking ability, rushing for 99 yards and a touchdown on just 21 carries. His 4.7 yards per attempt came mostly in garbage time, sure, but it was more than enough to whet the appetite of fans and coaches alike. Fields is a former top-10 recruit in Oklahoma and carries that homegrown underdog aura that Cowboy fans love to rally behind.
Then there’s Trent Howland, the bruising redshirt senior and former Indiana Hoosier who quietly put together an efficient 2024 season behind Gordon. His 230 yards on 41 carries (5.6 yards per attempt) came in limited action, but his north-south style — and 6-foot-2, 245-pound frame — give the offense a true power option in short-yardage and red zone scenarios. In the final four games of the year, he averaged 6.1 yards per carry. That’s not just efficient — it’s productive.
Don’t Sleep on the Support Cast
Sesi Vailahi, a redshirt sophomore, has been a reliable depth piece over the past two seasons and is the most experienced Cowboy back on the roster in terms of appearances (16). Though he hasn’t fully broken out yet, he’s shown flashes as a dual-threat option, with 126 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and solid hands out of the backfield.
Meanwhile, Kalib Hicks — a former Oklahoma Sooner who transferred to Stillwater in December — enters the mix as an intriguing wild card. Highly recruited out of Denton, Texas, Hicks brings untapped upside and fresh legs to the room. His limited touches at OU (25 yards and a touchdown on five carries) don’t tell the full story of a back who once held offers from Alabama, Auburn, and Penn State.
And we haven’t even touched on redshirt freshman Jaden Allen-Hendrix, a jumbo-sized back (6’2″, 235) who ran for over 2,200 yards in his final high school season. Or DJ Dugar Jr., a summer enrollee from Texas who picked OSU over programs in the SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12. Both are more long-term plays, but they add even more upside to a group that seems poised to evolve as the season progresses.
Thunder and Lightning — Or a Committee?
As the Cowboys prepare for fall camp, it’s likely that this will be a committee approach early on. There’s no Gordon-level bell cow yet, but that doesn’t mean there’s no talent. In fact, Oklahoma State might be one of the few programs in the country with five or six backs who could legitimately contribute meaningful snaps. Fields and Howland offer a natural “thunder and lightning” pairing, reminiscent of the 2016 Justice Hill–Chris Carson duo. Vailahi adds a pass-catching option. Hicks brings speed and pedigree. Brock has experience and production. That’s not a bad place to start.
What’s missing — and perhaps what 2025 is about discovering — is the star. The guy who can take over games, lead the offense, and strike fear into opposing defenses the way Gordon did. It may be Fields. It could be Brock. Or maybe it’s someone no one’s expecting right now. But this group has more answers than it does questions — something that couldn’t be said at this time a year ago.
The Bottom Line
Oklahoma State doesn’t need to replicate Ollie Gordon’s production in 2025 to be successful. But it does need a consistent, reliable ground game to take pressure off what will likely be a transitioning quarterback room and retooled offensive line.
Depth is no longer the concern. Talent isn’t either. The real test will be whether Doug Meacham and Mike Gundy can take this depth, blend it with smart scheme design, and find the right roles for the pieces they have. If they can — and if one of these backs breaks out — don’t be surprised if OSU’s offense looks a lot better than it did last fall.
The 2025 season may be a reset for Cowboy football, but it could also be a renaissance — especially in the backfield.
Matt Hofeld is a college football analyst and contributor covering the Big 12. Follow him for more Oklahoma State and conference-wide analysis throughout the 2025 season.
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