Ollie Gordon Scouting Report
By: Michael Higgins
(Image courtesy of Pat Kinnison)
School: Oklahoma State
Class: Junior
Position: RB
HT: 6’2
WT: 225 lbs
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Background: Ollie Gordon is a violent runner who has become a workhorse in college. Gordon is from Fort Worth, Texas and was a 4-star recruit. Gordon was a top 20 running back and top 300 player in the class of 2022. Playing for Trinity, Gordon rushed for 2,546 yards and 35 touchdowns as a senior. He was a First Team All-State honoree as both a junior and senior. He also earned district MVP honors. Out of high school, Gordon committed to Oklahoma State over the likes of Arkansas, Hawai’i, and TCU.
College: Gordon appeared in every game as a freshman, rushing for 308 yards and 2 touchdowns. He exploded onto the scene in 2023, winning the Doak Walker award as the nation’s top running back. He was a unanimous All-American and won Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He led the nation with 1,732 yards and was 2nd in the nation with 21 touchdowns. His production took a serious dip in 2024, Gordon ran for 880 yards on 190 carries.
Strengths: Ollie Gordon combines his raw strength with good vision behind the line of scrimmage. Gordon has rare size for the position. He will be able to handle a heavier workload than the average player at his position. Despite a heavy workload in college, NFL teams should not be concerned with tread on his tires due to his durability and size. Gordon is patient enough to wait for blocks to develop in front of him and does not hesitate when a lane opens up for him. He displays good footwork and change of direction to attack any gap from anywhere behind the line. His ability to cut on a dime is shown just as much in the backfield as it is in open space. Gordon has the burst to reach his top speed while squeezing between the tackles. He has elite contact balance and will not be brought down on initial contact. Most of the time, it will take multiple defenders to bring Gordon to the ground.
Weaknesses: Gordon can get to the second level of the defense, but his top speed in open space is a concern as he can be hawked down by defensive backs. His lower yards per carry tells the story of his struggles against defenses who commit to stopping the run. Those stacked boxes and extra bodies close to the line of scrimmage can give Gordon issues. Despite his size, Gordon is not a plus pass protector for his position. He is lacking in terms of technique and absorbing contact from pass rushers.
Conclusion: Ollie Gordon is a physical running back who has all the tools to be a workhorse, but will need to become more well-rounded to be able to fill that role in the NFL. If he can improve in the passing game, both as a pass catcher and pass protector, he will be much more valuable to NFL offenses.
Scheme Fit: Gap Rushing Offense
Ideal Role: Depth RB
Best Team Fits: CAR, DAL, MIN
Player Comparison: James Conner
Player Grade: Round 3 (78.6)
