Oklahoma State Star Running Back Continues to Receive National Praise

The No. 15 Oklahoma State Cowboys travel to Orlando to take on the UCF Knights in another Big 12 battle in Week 11 of college football. Both teams are going to swing with some hefty run games. 

The Cowboys are coming into this game hot. They're on a five-game winning streak. In the winning streak, Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon has been nothing short of elite.

Despite not receiving many carries at all in the first three weeks of play, he still leads the nation in rushing yards. He's had a Heisman-level season, and he's garnering national attention because of it.

READ MORE: All Pokes Staff Score Predictions: Oklahoma State at UCF

Gordon joined Matt Leinart on Fox College Football to talk about his breakout and Heisman-like season. 

"It's been really good. For us to be able to turn it around, especially after the beginning and we started 2-2," Gordon said. "It was just us sticking together, telling each other it's not over just because we lost two games."

Since the 2-2 start, the Cowboys have been incredible. In particular, the offensive line and Gordon have really picked things up and had some elite games. The defense cleaned things up after the bye week, too.

Gordon then talked about the Heisman race and his case for the voters to vote for him. 

"When you look at the contenders, it's not too many of them putting up the numbers like that. At the end of the day, I'm not really worried about that, it's more about us finishing our season great and good," Gordon said.

This is on brand with how Gordon's approached the game all season. He plays with a certain edge and is electric, yet incredibly humble and never fails to give credit where it's due, whether it be the offensive line, passing game or defense. 

While Gordon won't plead his Heisman case, others will. On ESPN's College Gameday, Pat McAfee praised Gordon plenty.

"Ollie Gordon the second is electrifying to watch, and if you think back to the last running back that has won a Heisman, Derrick Henry, and you start putting their stats next to each other, you go, 'Wait a minute,'" McAfee said.

The numbers are eye-catching. The rushing yards are similar, but Gordon has found plenty more success through the air.

"Now, Obviously Henry had 17 touchdowns, which is different from Ollie Gordon's 12 touchdowns," McAfee said.

The stats are there for Gordon, as he has simply built himself a Heisman case while the Cowboys have turned their season around completely.

"It's tough to say through nine games, this is how he looks because for the first three games, he only had 109 yards rushing. Basically, this is a six-game run that Ollie Gordon is on right now through a tough Big 12 run defense," McAfee continued.

It's hard to imagine where Gordon would be if he was playing the same dose of snaps and receiving the carries he does now earlier in the season, but he's taken every bit of opportunity given and maximized it.

READ MORE: How to Watch Oklahoma State at UCF: Kickoff Time, TV Channel and Odds

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