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Oklahoma State Football

Ollie Gordon II Becomes Oklahoma State's First Doak Walker Award Winner

December 8, 2023
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STILLWATER – Thurman Thomas is in both the College and the Pro Football Hall of Fames, so is Barry Sanders and Sanders has a Heisman Trophy, but neither of those Cowboy running back greats or any since has a Doak Walker Award. Named after the SMU running back great from the 40’s, the Doak Walker Award symbolic of the best running back of the individual college football season has been awarded since 1990. There are a lot of great names and many Heisman Trophy winners that have won a Doak Walker Award. This season the Doak goes to Ollie Gordon II from Oklahoma State. 

“It means a lot,” was Gordon’s immediate reaction to the question of what the award means. You could tell he was excited and maybe a little overwhelmed. 

He was also named at the end of the ESPN College Football Awards Show to the prestigious Walter Camp All-American team.

Robert Allen - Pokes Report
Gordon II wins the Doak Walker Award on ESPN.

Gordon II started the season rotating at running back and after three games had very modest numbers. However, after busting out in midseason, Gordon II finished as the nation’s leading rusher with 1,614-yards and 20 rushing touchdowns on 258 carries. He averaged 6.3-yard per carry. He also had 37 receptions for 326-yards and a touchdown.

Gordon II had 109-yards and two touchdowns after three games. He rushed for 121-yards including a 71-yard run that set up a touchdown at Iowa State and he was just warming up. 

“You know staying committed was an easy thing,” Gordon II said of early in the season. “I’m a team player and we were playing good as a team, so I didn’t care about the reps or anything being a team player. Things started clicking for us and it got better and got good.”

Pokes Report
Gordon II diving in for a touchdown vs. OU.

Against Kansas State he helped the Cowboys to the upset with 136-yards and a touchdown. In the win over Kansas he had 168-yards and a touchdown in the 39-32 victory. At West Virginia he went into overdrive and carried 29 times for 282-yards and four touchdowns. He followed that up with 277-yards against Cincinnati. His Bedlam performance was huge with 138-yards and two touchdowns in the 27-24 win over the Sooners.

After a drop off against UCF in the rain and falling behind early, Gordon II went back to back with 164 and three touchdowns at Houston and then 166-yards at home against BYU. He also did something that rainy afternoon that only Barry Sanders had ever done previously with five touchdowns. 

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer
This touchdown in overtime vs. BYU may have been his most important of the season.

The former Euless Trinity “wildcat” quarterback in high school he is a big family guy and really salutes his mother all the time. He’s told me many times his favorite meal is his mom’s homemade spaghetti. 

He is also a strong teammate and while he is a very emotional player he is always there to thank teammates and to celebrate their successes as well.  

Gordon II won the award over fellow finalists in Missouri running back Cody Schrader. He also won over his closest chaser in the national rushing title race as Omarion Hampton from North Carolina.

Previous winners include Eddie George (1995), Ricky Williams (1997-98), Reggie Bush (2005), Darren McFadden (2006-07), Derrick Henry (2015), Jonathan Tyalor (2018-19), and Bijan Robinson (2022). 

Barry Sanders did not win the award but he was contacted today and was glad to record a message congratulating Gordon II.

Robert Allen - Pokes Report
Barry Sanders with the Oklahoma State running backs during the 2022 season.

“Hey Ollie, it’s Barry Sanders, You had an awesome year. I’m very proud of the way you represented the Cowboys,” Sanders said. “Congratulations on winning the Doak Walker Award. It is very deserved.”

“Honestly, it is a blessing just to be in the same conversation, same topic as him,” Gordon II said of hearing Sanders’ congratulation. “You know barry Sanders is a great guy, great running back. Stillwater loves him, still loves him. Seeing that message I really appreciate that.” 

Gordon is just a sophomore and has already made a number of All-America teams as a first team running back including USA Today, Pro Football Focus, and The Athletic. He was the unanimous Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

Discussion from...

Ollie Gordon II Becomes Oklahoma State's First Doak Walker Award Winner

9,903 Views | 12 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by RodeoPoke
CProc7
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7:18p, 12/8/23
I was hoping he could take a moment and announce his return!
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CowboyKip
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8:54p, 12/8/23
Congratulations!
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Eddy Hackleman
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9:06p, 12/8/23
So awesome, congratulations!!
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Zen
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9:15p, 12/8/23
Since there has been no message from Ollie about returning, I have to assume he is at this point just collecting NIL offers from other schools before he decides. The best running back in college I think would prefer now to play for a team that can contend for a national championship. A team that has the talent which will allow him to put up enormous numbers next season. That is what I would guess, learning from Gundy that Ollie loves all the adulation. I fear that he has outgrown the Cowboys. Texas snubbed him out of high school, so I don't think he goes there even if they throw millions at him. He also probably doesn't want to go to a team that already has a great RB because he does not want to share duties, that would cut down on his yardage. But I would assume he ends up in the SEC. He looks at OSU and sees there might not be that much talent next season, especially at QB and with a questionable Offensive Coordinator. So I just don't see enough reasons for Ollie to want to remain a Cowboy.
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TUSKAPOKE
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9:37p, 12/8/23
Congrats Ollie! GO POKES!!!
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Cdub234
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In reply to Zen • 5:13a, 12/9/23
You're a pathetic idiot.
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GumbyFromPokeyLand
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In reply to Zen • 8:30a, 12/9/23
Zen said:
Since there has been no message from Ollie about returning, I have to assume he is at this point just collecting NIL offers from other schools before he decides. The best running back in college I think would prefer now to play for a team that can contend for a national championship. A team that has the talent which will allow him to put up enormous numbers next season. That is what I would guess, learning from Gundy that Ollie loves all the adulation. I fear that he has outgrown the Cowboys. Texas snubbed him out of high school, so I don't think he goes there even if they throw millions at him. He also probably doesn't want to go to a team that already has a great RB because he does not want to share duties, that would cut down on his yardage. But I would assume he ends up in the SEC. He looks at OSU and sees there might not be that much talent next season, especially at QB and with a questionable Offensive Coordinator. So I just don't see enough reasons for Ollie to want to remain a Cowboy.


Yeah, but you missed the biggest reason he might transfer - because some of our fans just massively suck. Hint, hint.
True wisdom is knowing what you don't know.
- Confucius
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PokeSmot75
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In reply to GumbyFromPokeyLand • 9:25a, 12/9/23
On3 posted a few days ago that Ollie was entering the portal. At this point, I will be somewhat surprised if he doesn't. But Congrats to him and his teammates on the Doak Walker, well deserved!
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Eddy Hackleman
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10:51a, 12/9/23
Always verify sources… lot's of spam posters. That was a fake/clone ON3 account.
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PokeSmot75
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In reply to Eddy Hackleman • 11:13a, 12/9/23
ehack69 said:
Always verify sources… lot's of spam posters. That was a fake/clone ON3 account.


Thank you for setting me straight on that. I still think better than 50/50 he transfers but would love to be wrong.
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Joe Khatib
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In reply to GumbyFromPokeyLand • 1:59p, 12/9/23
GumbyFromPokeyLand said:
Zen said:
Since there has been no message from Ollie about returning, I have to assume he is at this point just collecting NIL offers from other schools before he decides. The best running back in college I think would prefer now to play for a team that can contend for a national championship. A team that has the talent which will allow him to put up enormous numbers next season. That is what I would guess, learning from Gundy that Ollie loves all the adulation. I fear that he has outgrown the Cowboys. Texas snubbed him out of high school, so I don't think he goes there even if they throw millions at him. He also probably doesn't want to go to a team that already has a great RB because he does not want to share duties, that would cut down on his yardage. But I would assume he ends up in the SEC. He looks at OSU and sees there might not be that much talent next season, especially at QB and with a questionable Offensive Coordinator. So I just don't see enough reasons for Ollie to want to remain a Cowboy.


Yeah, but you missed the biggest reason he might transfer - because some of our fans just massively suck. Hint, hint.
Another Zero type pretending to be an OSU fan Gumby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! just lots of blah, blah, blah!
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RodeoPoke
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In reply to Zen • 1:40p, 12/10/23
Zen said:
Since there has been no message from Ollie about returning, I have to assume he is at this point just collecting NIL offers from other schools before he decides. The best running back in college I think would prefer now to play for a team that can contend for a national championship. A team that has the talent which will allow him to put up enormous numbers next season. That is what I would guess, learning from Gundy that Ollie loves all the adulation. I fear that he has outgrown the Cowboys. Texas snubbed him out of high school, so I don't think he goes there even if they throw millions at him. He also probably doesn't want to go to a team that already has a great RB because he does not want to share duties, that would cut down on his yardage. But I would assume he ends up in the SEC. He looks at OSU and sees there might not be that much talent next season, especially at QB and with a questionable Offensive Coordinator. So I just don't see enough reasons for Ollie to want to remain a Cowboy.
LOL - what you "think" doesn't seem to amount to much in the way of reality...


"Behind the scenes, I've (RA) been told that Gordon II along with some other standout players like linebacker Nick Martin, slot receiver Brennan Presley, linebacker Collin Oliver and others have negotiated suitable NIL arrangements to keep them Cowboys for next season. None of those players have gone public with that kind of news like offensive linemen like center Joe Michalski and Cole Birmingham. My sources tell me that left tackle Dalton Cooper is included as is right tackle Jake Springfield. "
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