‘I’m going to run through you.’ How RB Ollie Gordon II can help the Dolphins
Oklahoma State has produced its fair share of running back greatness.
A former Cowboy by the name Barry Sanders holds the FBS single-season rushing record. OSU has also produced another hall-of-fame tailback in Thurman Thomas. More recently, guys like Chubba Hubbard and Justice Hill have made their mark in the league.
Ollie Gordon II could potentially be the next tailback to have an impact on the next level.
“Being a running back in that offense or just the school in general, you got to live up to the greats in front of you,” Gordon told reporters after the Miami Dolphins picked him 179th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. “I feel like we definitely hold that and pride that at Oklahoma State, and I felt like I had to step up to that totem pole and that’s what really happened. So I felt like it’s a lot of pressure.”
The Dolphins’ sole sixth round pick, Gordon will join a running back room that will looks to get back on track in 2025. Outside of De’Von Achane, who became the first Dolphin in franchise history to exceed 750 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving, the position group lacked production. Miami finished the 2024 season ranked in 21st rushing after their top-six performance the year prior. Gordon, however, brings exactly what they need: a powerful, north-south runner that can hopefully help alleviate the Dolphins’ short yardage issues.
“I would say I’m a bruiser,” Gordon said of his downhill running style. “I’m going to run through you. I’m going to make you want to not tackle me late in games and beginning of games.”
Added Gordon: “Honestly, my mindset is me versus you, and I’m banking on me every time. I can’t sit here and lie to you; I’m banking on me every time when I’m in there on one-on-one’s. So that’s my mindset – it’s either you’re going to get out of my way, or I’m going to run through you.”
That was certainly the case during his electric 2023 season. As a sophomore, Gordon had 285 carries for 1732 yards and 21 touchdowns. He added another 330 yards through the air, 39 catches and a single touchdown. Not only was a named a first-team All-American, Gordon won the Doak Walker Award which honors the nation’s best running back.
“I think the ’23 tape was very impressive,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said, “and based upon our interactions with him, we feel optimistic that is the version that we’re going to improve upon moving forward which will be up to him and what he does with this opportunity.”
Gordon’s numbers changed drastically in 2024. He experienced drops in every area including attempts (190), rushing yards (880) and touchdowns (13). Still, he averaged a respectable 4.6 yards per carry.
“I would just say in 2023, teams didn’t really know who we were,” Gordon said. “They didn’t really know what was coming. They didn’t know the quarterback, the running back situation because we rotated a lot. But as we got through 2023, we figured out who we were, got stuff done. I feel like 2024, teams went in and realized that they had to stop the run, because you know Oklahoma State, we love to run first. We’re going to run first if anything. We don’t have a bunch of great running backs for no reason, so I feel like once teams figured that out and stopped the run and made us change our mind up and throw the ball, that’s when I feel like we kind of got into a little hole.”
If Gordon wants to secure his position as the Dolphins’ short-yardage back, he will certainly have competition. Miami gave up significant assets just to grab Jaylen Wright in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft so he will surely have his fair share of opportunities. And although Miami lost Raheem Mostert to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, they also signed Alexander Mattison who could also fit the role as a bruising, downhill runner.
“It’s definitely something that when you take pride in something, when you understand how important it is and how important it can be and pivotal it can be for your team and for the trajectory of the game, that’s where you emphasize on different things and watched a lot of tape of different backs,” Mattison said of his ability to convert short-yardage downs, adding that he “was also blessed with a certain type of running style and technique that allows me to break tackles.”
Regardless of whether Mattison or Gordon gets the short-yardage nod, the Dolphins’ retooling along the offensive line should bode well for all parties involved. Not only did Miami sign James Daniels, who was Pro Football Focus’ second-ranked offensive guard through the first four games of 2024 prior to him rupturing his Achilles, they picked Jonah Savaiinaea, one of the consensus top-10 offensive lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft.
This story was originally published April 30, 2025 at 10:13 AM.
