Crimson Countdown: No. 8 Taylor Tatum

The Crimson Countdown is officially on for the 2025 Oklahoma football season. Everybody wants to forget about 2024 and move forward.

Head coach Brent Venables and staff have attempted to do that. New face calling the offense (Ben Arbuckle). Venables calling the defense, it’s now or never for this regime at OU in the SEC. No beating around the bush.

Every day as we get closer to kickoff, SoonerScoop.com will count down the days with you. Starting with No. 99 and working our way to No. 0, we’ll be there every step of the way.

Crimson Countdown: No. 8 Taylor Tatum

2024 stats: Played in 11 games, started three, rushed for 278 yards, three touchdowns; receiving touchdown

2025 outlook:

Very curious to watch what happens with Tatum. Because it already appeared as though OU wanted to boost the room by adding Jaydn Ott, but then not being healthy for the majority of preseason camp is rough.

Tatum came in with a world of expectations as the No. 1 overall running back. And he showed flashes last season, but he also had some issues holding onto the ball.

When you look at Tatum, you just wonder can Arbuckle unleash a different version? Tatum was highly regarded as a receiver coming out of the backfield. Now that couldn’t be utilized in the 2024 mess, but perhaps that can change?

Confidence and staying healthy will go a long way toward perhaps seeing what Tatum can really do. He surprised some by not just sticking with baseball, so let’s see what he has in store this time around.

2025 running back outlook

Not many people were looking at OU adding anything to this room after spring practice. It felt like a pretty stacked group as it was. However, the Sooners saw a chance and made it happen with former Cal star Jaydn Ott. So now it looks like Ott leading the way, but guys like Jovantae Barnes, Xavier Robinson and Taylor Tatum all with some sort of experience as well. OU needs to find those big-time runs again. The ones where a 10-yard gain turns into a 50-yarder or a touchdown. Bring back some of those fireworks. Ott could, should be that guy.