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Gavin Sawchuk injury update: Brent Venables explains Oklahoma RB's Week 7 absence

Matt Connollyby:Matt Connolly•10/22/24•

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NCAA Football: Alamo Bowl-Arizona at Oklahoma
Oklahoma RB Gavin Sawchuk (27) (Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports)

Oklahoma running back Gavin Sawchuk was not listed on the SEC availability report ahead of Saturday’s game against South Carolina. However, he did not receive any playing time in the loss to the Gamecocks.

Sooners head coach Brent Venables explained why Sawchuk didn’t play against South Carolina during his media availability on Tuesday.

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“Going into the game he was healthy. He strained a quad,” Brent Venables said.

Gavin Sawchuk had an excellent season in 2023, rushing for 744 yards and 9 touchdowns, while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. He also rushed for 105 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry in 2022 while receiving limited playing time.

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However, he has been unable to get on track this year. He has appeared in five games so far this season but has recorded only 42 yards on 20 carries for Oklahoma.

In addition to Gavin Sawchuk, the rest of the Oklahoma offense has also struggled. The Sooners turned the ball over on their first three possessions against the Gamecocks on Saturday on their way to a 35-9 loss.

Brent Venables names Jackson Arnold starting QB for Oklahoma vs. Ole Miss

Elsewhere with the Oklahoma offense, Brent Venables made changes at offensive coordinator ahead of Saturday’s game against Ole Miss, firing Seth Litrell following the South Carolina loss. Brent Venables is switching things up at quarterback too, going back to Jackson Arnold after benching him earlier in the year.

True freshman Michael Hawkins will return to the backup role for Oklahoma after getting three starts, a stretch where the Sooners went 1-2 and mightily struggled offensively.

“Venables says Jackson Arnold will be the starting quarterback for the #Sooners on Saturday,” George Stoia of On3’s Sooner Scoop said via X.

Arnold has played in five games this season, completing 57.2% of his throws for 763 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions. Playing against South Carolina burned his chance of redshirting for the 2024 season and preserving eligibility moving forward. He now gets another opportunity to start for Oklahoma.