Sooners bolster backfield with former FCS standout Benjamin McCreary, adding depth and a family legacy to their roster
The Oklahoma Sooners have made a low-key but notable addition to their running back room through the NCAA transfer portal: former Incarnate Word Cardinals running back Benjamin McCreary. This move comes amid a busy offseason for the Sooners, who lost several key players at the position while bolstering depth elsewhere on the roster.
McCreary, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound redshirt senior, will bring one final year of eligibility to Norman for the 2026 season. He has officially enrolled at the University of Oklahoma in the Price College of Business and is set to join the team as part of "Team 132."
Evidence of his commitment surfaced when McCreary reposted a welcome video from the official OU Football X account, captioning it "Team 132 #BoomerSooner!!" He also updated his X bio to reflect his new affiliation with the Sooners.
McCreary becomes the second running back Oklahoma has added via the portal this cycle, joining Lloyd Avant from Colorado State. This helps offset significant departures at the position. The Sooners saw Jaydn Ott exhaust his eligibility, Jovantae Barnes transfer to Kentucky, and Taylor Tatum move to Michigan (where he is switching to defensive back). These losses left gaps in depth that the staff has worked to address.
McCreary's journey to FBS-level football has been circuitous. He began his collegiate career at NCAA Division II West Texas A&M, where he played in 2022 and 2023. As a sophomore in 2023, he appeared in nine games, rushing for 130 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown—highlighted by a 71-yard run against Angelo State. He saw limited action as a freshman, primarily on special teams. After transferring to Incarnate Word (an FCS program) in 2024, McCreary did not record any appearances or statistics over the 2024 and 2025 seasons, per Pro Football Focus data.
Despite his lack of recent production at the FCS level, McCreary brings prior experience and physical tools to Oklahoma. His high school career at Claudia Taylor Johnson High School in San Antonio, Texas, was standout: as a senior, he rushed for 1,558 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding 313 receiving yards and three scores. He helped lead his team to a district title in 2021 and earned District MVP honors, All-Area recognition, and San Antonio All-Star selection.
Notably, he camped at Oklahoma in 2021, giving him early familiarity with Sooners running backs coach DeMarco Murray. A compelling family connection adds intrigue to this move. Benjamin is the older brother of Mikhail McCreary, a highly regarded four-star cornerback committed to Oklahoma in the 2027 recruiting class. Mikhail, a top-200 national prospect from San Antonio, committed to the Sooners in September 2025 and has drawn praise for his size (6-foot-0), competitive toughness, and offers from programs like Michigan, Florida, and Texas Tech.
While McCreary is unlikely to contend for significant playing time immediately—given the Sooners' emphasis on portal additions for depth—he offers valuable practice reps and veteran presence in the backfield.
This acquisition marks the third sub-FBS level transfer for OU this month, following Division II offensive lineman Kenneth Wermy (Central Oklahoma) and FCS defensive back Prince Ijioma (Mississippi Valley State).
Like Wermy, McCreary is expected to join in a walk-on capacity, contributing to roster building in a transitional period for the program.
Overall, the move reflects Oklahoma's strategy under head coach Brent Venables to add experienced players who fit specific needs, even quietly.
As the Sooners prepare for the 2026 season in the SEC, additions like McCreary help maintain depth amid ongoing roster turnover. Fans can look forward to seeing how he integrates during spring practices and fall camp.