South Florida Scores Major Upgrade: Meet Sam Franklin, the Oklahoma Running Back Set to Shake Up the Game

Sometimes in sports, you just gotta read the signs—Sam Franklin did exactly that. After a single season trudging through the crowded Oklahoma Sooners’ backfield, it became crystal clear that his chances for meaningful playing time were slipping through his fingers. So, what does a savvy running back do? He throws his chips in the ring elsewhere. Enter South Florida: a fresh start, an open door, and a team looking to fill big holes on the ground. Franklin’s journey, from carving out an impressive chapter at Tennessee-Martin to battling for snaps in Norman, speaks volumes about the grind and grit it takes to find your place in this game. As the Sooners stockpile talent behind him, Franklin’s next chapter, just down in Tampa, might just be the comeback story we didn’t know we needed. Curious about all the ins and outs? LEARN MORE

Sam Franklin saw the writing on the wall, packed his bags, and headed south.Franklin was one of two Sooners running backs who entered the portal after spring practice. He spent about two weeks determining his destination, while Gavin Sawchuk, who led Oklahoma in yards rushing in 2023, entered over the weekend.Franklin, who spent one year in the Oklahoma Sooners backfield, signed to play the 2025 season at South Florida. The running back entered the transfer portal on April 15 after going through spring practices with the Sooners.Franklin began his career at Tennessee-Martin, playing three seasons for the Skyhawks. He ran for 1,386 yards and 11 touchdowns in his third season at UT-Martin, en route to an FCS All-American nod. At Oklahoma, playing time was harder to come by, as he finished with 18 carries for 132 yards.Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.

Oklahoma returns all three of its top running backs from last year in Jovantae Barnes, Xavier Robinson and Tatum Taylor. Plus, the Sooners added Jadyn Ott, formerly of California-Berkeley, out of the transfer portal. Another year at fifth in the depth chart loomed, so Franklin headed for Tampa. The Bulls are replacing their four leading rushers from last year.