Oklahoma RB Jovantae Barnes Opens Up About Injury-Plagued 2023 Season

After taking a step back in his second year at OU, Sooners' running back Jovantae Barnes explained on Monday evening what held him back during the 2023 campaign.

Oct 28, 2023; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Jovantae Barnes (2) runs the ball / Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

NORMAN — After a solid start to his career at Oklahoma, it appeared that Jovantae Barnes was in line to be the Sooners’ next standout running back.

With players like Eric Gray, Rhamondre Stevenson, Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon all on NFL rosters, Barnes was slated to be the “next man up” after rushing for 519 yards and five touchdowns as a true freshman. 

During Barnes sophomore season, however, the Desert Pines (NV) product took a major step back in both playing time and production, tallying 79 fewer carries for just 140 yards and one touchdown.

According to Pro Football Focus, Barnes played 248 snaps as a true freshman and earned a 73.8 rushing grade. As a sophomore in 2023, the former 4-star recruit played just 94 snaps and finished with a 67.4 rushing grade, per PFF.

With walk-on running back Tawee Walker earning the bulk of OU’s carries early in the season and Gavin Sawchuk closing the year as the Sooners’ primary option in the backfield, observers were puzzled that Barnes, who racked up 108 rushing yards and a touchdown against Florida State in the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl, was largely left out of Oklahoma’s offensive game plan. 

On Monday night after a spring practice session, Barnes revealed to reporters why he had such a sharp decline during his sophomore campaign.

"It was just a lot to do with my foot surgery and just the timing and just me kind of trying to rush it and make sure I can make it back for the season and be out here for the coaches and make sure they can depend on me," Barnes said. "I just wasn’t ready. There would be sometimes I would be like, ‘Ok, I feel good at practice. I feel good this week’ and I would go back out there and I just wouldn’t be able to burst."

Barnes mentioned his foot surgery to reporters during August media sessions ahead of the 2023 season, saying that he played through an injury most of his freshman year. 

The Nevada native also added that he felt like he could have been even more productive in 2022 had he not dealt with the nagging foot issue. 

Rather than taking his time to fully recover from the surgery, Barnes rushed back in an attempt to help his team during the 2023 season, never fully returning to 100% health. 

Not only did Barnes have to deal with the physical pain and not being able to run and cut as well, he also experienced the mental struggles of not being able to reach his full potential or even the same level he played at during his freshman year.

"It was very frustrating, but at the same time, I know that God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers," Barnes said. "So, at the same time, I just had to take that as a mental error and make sure I can just be happy for my boys and make sure I was happy for Gavin. Make sure I was happy for Tawee, make sure I was happy for everybody in the room."

Now in spring practice ahead of his junior season, Barnes said that he is nearing full health, and is ready to make an impact on Oklahoma's offense as the team heads into the SEC. 

Listed at 6-feet-tall and 207 pounds, the third-year running back has the potential to be a difference maker amongst a position group that is largely unproven, outside of Sawchuk.

Over the offseason, OU offensive coordinator Seth Littrell brought in Tennessee Martin transfer Sam Franklin, who ran for 1,386 yards and 11 touchdowns last year with the Skyhawks. With Sawchuk, Franklin and redshirt freshman Kalib Hicks all hoping to earn substantial time on the field in 2024, the spring practice sessions will be important for Barnes, as he looks to prove that he deserves touches over the aforementioned players. 

"It’s doing great, I feel back to normal. I feel back explosive," Barnes said. "I’ve just been working on that (this) offseason. Making sure I just keep my head up and just getting closer with my teammates and making sure I call my family everyday so they can give me some motivation."

If Barnes has a solid showing in the spring, he will be a huge asset to the Sooners' offense after Oklahoma failed to produce a 1000-yard rusher for the first time since 2020, when Stevenson missed five games due to a suspension. 

With Sawchuk likely resuming his role as OU's lead back in 2024, Barnes should still have the opportunity to be a key rotation piece, which would give the Sooners a solid duo as they transition to one of the toughest conferences in college football.

This article was originally published on March 25, 2024.