2025 Scouting Report: RB Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State
Bio:
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 226 (likely plays 230+, slimmed down for Combine)
Career Stats: 38 Games; 537 carries, 2,920 yards 36 TDs; 80 receptions, 585 yards, 4 TDs
2024 Stats: 12 games; 191 carries (41), 880 yards (66th), 13 TDs (T-28th), 4.6 ypc (160th); 29 receptions, 179 yards, 1 TD
Awards: 2023 Unanimous All-American | 2023 Big 12 OPOY | 2023 Doak Walker Award | Led nation in rush yards, rushing TDs and total TDs, and scrimmage yards in 2023 | Voted top RB on his team at 2025 Senior Bowl.
You can view Ollie Gordon as a prospect in two ways because of the drastic difference in his 2023 and 2024 seasons. Most people see Gordon as the big, lumbering, and slow power back we saw in 2024. I see the 2023 version of Gordon hidden inside of the low 2024 outputs.
In 2023 Gordon tallied 1,732 rush yards, 2,056 total yards, and 22 TDs.
In 2024 Gordon tallied 880 rush yards, 1,059 total yards, and 14 TDs.
Coming into 2024 Gordon was in the debate for being the best RB in the class, the next Derrick Henry, but then he flopped. Gordon’s output was halved and his yards per carry dropped from 6.1 to 4.6 in 2024. Is he still the next Derrick Henry, or is he just your everyday 230+ lb back?
There are a few reasons I have brought up Henry a few times, but I believe their biggest comparison is a tanking in public perception. In 2023 Derrick Henry had his worst season as a starter, posting his worst yards per attempt, second-worst yards per game, and his lowest TD total. Everyone everywhere said Henry was washed and it was the beginning of the end of his career, even after he left one of the worst lines to join one of the best with Baltimore. As we all know Henry just had the second-best season of his career, at age 30, behind 5.9 yards per carry. We saw the same thing happen with Saquon Barkley, who should have been this year's MVP.
No matter the skill of a running back they can only go so far without support. In 2023 Henry went from a bad offense with a bad coach, and an old Ryan Tannehill then rookie Will Levis. Defenses stacked the box and dared Tennessee to beat them with any of the 10 other players on the field.
That’s the same situation Gordon was faced in 2024. Defenses didn’t respect Oklahoma State’s offense other than Gordon, so they stacked the box and limited Gordon’s runs. In situations like this you need to consider two things, how was the production on plays the defense blew up, and how does he look on the rare occasions he can get into space?
On plays where the defense blew threw the line, just like Ashton Jeanty and Derrick Henry, Gordon has this innate ability to fall forward either limiting the yards lost, finding his way back to the LoS, or even finding a way to gain a yard or two despite taking multiple hits in the backfield. What hurts prospects when in scenarios like this, is the perception changes from being a downhill runner to becoming someone who dances around trying to be a hero every play. There’s a ton more tape of him dancing his way back to mitigate losses so that’s how he gets viewed.
Just like Derrick Henry in 2023.
When Gordon finds space, he can really get going, and once he’s “on his horse” you won’t knock him off. Whether he’s breaking off a big run, flying past corners and safeties, or getting up to speed about to truck someone’s helmet off, Gordon’s top gear is not to be scoffed at. I don’t care about his bad 40 times in Indy, the tape doesn’t lie. And the tape is telling me Ollie Gordon is FAST. Once he gets moving he is like a freight train that nobody is going to want to tackle.
Just like Derrick Henry.
Nearly everyone was wrong on Henry (I wasn’t; just look at my testimonials), a top-3 contender for Offensive Player of the Year in 2024, because they saw a power back with no support. I believe once again, everyone will be wrong on Ollie Gordon because they see a power back with no support.
Not only is Gordon a great downhill runner, but he’s agile too, with great vision. If he wasn’t so shifty and good at seeing the field he wouldn’t have had a 2,000-yard season, nor would he have come close to 1,000 yards this past year. His ability to cut and change lanes behind his blockers as well as get by defenders is why he can be one the of best backs in the league. On top of it all, Gordon can block and is very good in the passing game, there’s one clip I always see of him bringing in a pass one-handed, then getting by multiple defenders to turn a would-be incomplete pass into a 15+ yard gain. If seeing a back do that at 6’1” and 230 pounds doesn’t get you excited then you need to change your way of thinking.
The Data on Ollie Gordon:
I mostly agree with the data here on Gordon, he’s a great power back, he’s solid+ out of the backfield, but his agility feels a little too low for what I see on tape, but given the boring playcalling, the awful 40-yard dash, and all of the other factors I brought up earlier, I understand it.
| PowerRtg | AgilityRtg | RecRtg | H | W | Last | First | Team | adjYds/Att | adjAtt/TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12.181 | 3.181 | 5.607 | 73 | 230 | Gordon II | Ollie | Oklahoma State | 4.6 | 14.6 |
PowerRtg = Combination of rushing stats, adjusted stats, size, and strength of schedule.
AgilityRtg = Combination of rushing and receiving stats, adjusted stats, size, and strength of schedule.
RecRtg = Combination of receiving stats, adjusted stats, and strength of schedule.
adj. = stats weighted against strength of schedule.
Draft Outlook:
I would seriously consider Gordon as the top RB in the class because of his versatile skill set, but this year's class is so strong at the position you can make an argument for any of 4 or 5+ guys as the top dog. Gordon will probably fall into the 3rd or 4th round and be a steal for whichever team is looking to add a goal-line back, a la Braelon Allen from last season.
I would ‘reach’ for Gordon in the early 3rd round rather than hoping he falls to me on day 3.
Career Outlook:
Like every RB, it depends on where he gets drafted and what happens to the backs ahead of him. If Gordon is stuck behind an established starter then we may never fully realize his potential, but an injury, trade, failed contract negotiations, or anything that could catapult him into the starting role will be needed. I hope he lands in a good spot because Gordon has the potential to be a fun back to watch for years to come.
Image Source: (AP Photo/Spenser Heaps)
