4-star RB Tory Blaylock commits to Oklahoma: ‘It is like one big family’

Houston (Texas) Atascocita four-star running back Tory Blaylock attended a camp at Oklahoma heading into his sophomore year. He met Sooners running backs coach DeMarco Murray on that trip and eventually landed an offer from the soon-to-be SEC program. 

Blaylock, who last visited Oklahoma on Jan. 27, has already been to Norman six times. The 5-foot-10.5, 195-pound tailback will return to the Sooners’ campus as an Oklahoma commit, as he pledged to head coach Brent Venables and his staff on Friday. 

“The staff, it’s like a family and I really love that about the place,” Blaylock told On3. “All of them either played there or coached there previously and they all came back to the same spot because of the love that the coaches showed to them. It is like one big family that they have up there.

“At Oklahoma, I am going to be coached by DeMarco Murray, someone who I looked up to as a kid. He was a great ballplayer. He’s been where I’m trying to get to. He’s been Offensive Player of the Year in the NFL and he has great plans for me in that system.” 

Locked in and ‘1000% committed’ to Oklahoma

After choosing the Sooners over Ohio State, Blaylock will be back at Oklahoma this spring, as well as on June 21 for his official visit. The Sooners greatly rose up Blaylock’s list after he took a game visit at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. 

That day, he got to experience Oklahoma’s “crazy” atmosphere and felt like a top priority to Murray and Venables. Since that trip, Oklahoma was “definitely at the top” of his list. The effort from Murray and Venables paid off, as the No. 47 player in Texas is the newest member of the Sooners’ 2025 recruiting class.

“I’m 1,000% committed,” said Blaylock, the No. 291 overall prospect and No. 22 running back in the 2025 On3 Industry Ranking. “I’m shutting it down. There’s no other place I need to see. I’ve pretty much been everywhere that I was considering going to. I feel like God put me in this position and this place for a reason. I feel like Oklahoma is the place for me.” 

Blaylock is excited to play for Murray and Venables in Norman

Blaylock is looking forward to being mentored by Murray, who he speaks with daily about things on and off the field. The four-star likes how the Oklahoma assistant is not only a great coach, but also “a great man outside of coaching.” 

He is also excited to play for Venables. Last season, the Sooners’ head man led the program to 10 wins. 

“Coach Venables is a winner,” Blaylock said. “When he came to Oklahoma, the program changed. They won the Red River Rivalry last year and he’s just a winner and he’s a great guy too. He’s someone that I really want to play for. Overall, he’s a great dude and fun to be around. He loves the work too. That’s what I really love. He loves to put his head down, get to work and get those guys pumped up and ready to go.” 

While Blaylock is leaving the Lone Star State for his college football career, Norman is roughly six hours away by car. He is excited to play there in front of Oklahoma’s fans. 

“It’s a really great town,” Blaylock said. “It fits my vibe. I’m a chill, laid-back guy, so I feel like that spot and location is good for me. It’s pretty close to home. Then, the fanbase is crazy. It’s a crazy amount of love that they show their players. With all that, I feel like that’s the overall spot for me.”