Oklahoma RB Tawee Walker 'Welcome' to Return if Portal Process Doesn't Work Out

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables left the door open for Tawee Walker to return to Norman in 2024.

Author:
Ryan Chapman
Publish date:
Dec 15, 2023 4:00 PM EST

In this story:

NORMAN — The book might not be shut on Tawee Walker’s Oklahoma career.

After rushing for 496 yards and seven scores on 95 carries this year for the Sooners, the walk-on running back announced his intention to enter the transfer portal.

But Walker is sticking with the team through bowl season, as evidenced by his presence through OU’s first five Alamo Bowl practices, before officially testing the sometimes treacherous waters of the transfer portal.

Fellow Oklahoma run-in back Gavin Sawchuk, who said he admired Walker’s willingness to finish out the season with the Sooners on Tuesday, took over as OU’s feature back to close the season.

Jovantae Barnes is still on campus, and DeMarco Murray has the top running back in the country committed in Taylor Tatum and in-state star Xavier Robinson coming in the 2024 recruiting class, but Venables left the door open for Walker’s return on Friday.

“You’d have to ask him,” Venables said after practice. “And certainly he’ll be — that’s not the case for everybody. But Tawee, he’s gonna look at some opportunities. And if he doesn’t get what he wants, he’s more than welcome to be a part of the team.”

Walker wasn’t put on scholarship throughout the 2023 season, though he was Oklahoma’s feature back through the victory over Texas.

Whether Walker returns or not, Murray also worked the transfer portal to bolster his numbers at running back.

Marcus Major announced his entrance into the transfer portal to use his final year of eligibility, and freshman Daylan Smothers also entered the portal when the regular season concluded.

Murray got the commitment of Tennessee-Martin running back Samuel Franklin on Wednesday.

Martin rushed for 1,386 yards and 11 scores this year, averaging 6.2 yards per carry, and he is the finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which is widely know as the Heisman Trophy of the FCS.

No. 12 Oklahoma’s (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) bowl preparations roll on, as it will have 10 more practices before squaring off with the No. 14-ranked Arizona Wildcats (9-3, 7-2 Pac 12) at the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio on Dec. 28.