Tory Blaylock is used to the pressure. When your father played in the NFL, when your brothers suited up at the collegiate level, and when your family name carries weight in football circles, expectations are a given. But the incoming Oklahoma freshman running back doesn’t view pressure as a burden. To him, it’s an opportunity — a challenge he’s been preparing for his entire life.
Blaylock arrives in Norman with more than just a 4-star rating and highlight tapes full of broken tackles and breakaway speed. He brings with him a legacy, a quiet determination, and a vision that extends beyond the college gridiron. The goal? To follow in his father’s footsteps and carve out a name for himself in the National Football League.
His father, Derrick Blaylock, knows a thing or two about that journey. A former standout at Stephen F. Austin who went on to enjoy a solid NFL career — most notably with the Kansas City Chiefs — Derrick provided more than genetics. He laid down the blueprint. He showed Tory the work ethic, the mindset, and the discipline needed to compete at the highest level. Tory, it turns out, was paying close attention.
Growing up in Humble, Texas, Tory was surrounded by football. Not just in the form of backyard games and Pop Warner leagues, but in everyday conversations, in film study, in family stories shared around the dinner table. For many kids, the dream of playing in the NFL is just that — a dream. For Tory, it always felt real. Tangible. Attainable.
“I’ve always looked up to my dad,” Tory said during spring interviews. “I saw how he carried himself, how hard he worked, and how much he loved the game. It made me want to be just like him. But I also want to make my own name. I want to show people who Tory Blaylock is.”
He started doing just that during his standout high school career at Atascocita, where he emerged as one of the most electric backs in Texas. Blaylock combined vision, patience, and burst in a way that drew comparisons to some of college football’s elite. Despite battling injuries that slowed him at points, his talent was never in doubt. He rushed for over 2,000 yards in his career and showcased the kind of versatility that has become essential in today’s fast-paced offenses.
Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables took notice. So did new offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, who made it a point to ensure Blaylock felt like a priority in the Sooners’ 2024 recruiting class. Blaylock, who had offers from a slew of blueblood programs, including Alabama, Texas, and Oregon, ultimately chose Oklahoma because of the trust he felt with the staff — and the opportunity to make an immediate impact in a program hungry to reclaim its place among college football’s elite.
“I could tell they believed in me,” Blaylock said. “It wasn’t just about football. It was about development as a player and a person. That’s what stood out. That’s what made Oklahoma the right place.”
His arrival on campus this summer marks the beginning of a new chapter. The Sooners are in a transitional era, entering their first season in the SEC — a league known for its punishing defenses and deep talent pools. The program understands that to survive and thrive in its new environment, it will need players like Blaylock to grow up fast.
There’s an opportunity for Tory to earn early playing time. Oklahoma’s running back room is full of potential but light on proven production. Jovantae Barnes and Gavin Sawchuk are returning veterans, but injuries and inconsistency have kept them from firmly grabbing the reins. Blaylock, with his ability to catch out of the backfield, block in pass protection, and create explosive plays in space, could be a key piece in Littrell’s new-look offense.
“Tory’s a football player,” said running backs coach DeMarco Murray, himself a former NFL standout and Oklahoma legend. “You can tell he’s been around the game his whole life. He understands things you usually don’t see from a freshman — how to set up blocks, when to be patient, when to hit the gas. And he’s hungry. He wants to be great.”
That hunger, that drive, has been instilled in Tory from the beginning. His father never forced the game on him. He didn’t have to. Tory gravitated toward it naturally. The elder Blaylock made it clear, however, that talent alone wouldn’t be enough.
“I told him that your name will open doors, but it won’t keep them open,” Derrick said. “You have to earn everything. You have to outwork people. That’s the only way.”
It’s a message that Tory has taken to heart. He’s known as a tireless worker, often staying after practice to get in extra reps, extra film, extra lifts. His coaches at Atascocita praised not just his ability, but his attitude — coachable, mature, driven. And as he prepares to enter the most competitive phase of his football journey, those traits may be more valuable than any 40-yard dash time or recruiting star.
Still, the expectations loom. Oklahoma fans are starving for a return to national prominence, and Blaylock is entering the spotlight at a time when every move will be dissected and every performance will be magnified. The comparisons to his father are inevitable. But Tory, to his credit, doesn’t flinch. He doesn’t run from the legacy. He embraces it.
“I’m proud of where I come from,” he said. “But I’m also ready to show people what I can do. I’m not trying to be my dad. I’m trying to be me — and hopefully one day, I’ll be someone that kids look up to the way I looked up to him.”
What makes Tory’s story even more compelling is the broader family dynamic. He’s not the only Blaylock to take football seriously. His brothers played at various levels, and the competitive energy among them fueled countless late-night workouts and backyard challenges. That environment bred a certain edge — a willingness to compete, to push past comfort, to strive for excellence.
It also created a foundation of support. As Tory begins his journey at Oklahoma, he does so knowing that his family has his back. His father offers advice when needed, but never hovers. His mother provides stability and encouragement. His siblings check in regularly, offering both trash talk and genuine support. It’s a team behind the scenes, one that understands the peaks and valleys that come with chasing a dream as big as the NFL.
For now, though, Tory is focused on being a college freshman — learning the playbook, earning the trust of his coaches, and adapting to the speed and complexity of the college game. He knows the NFL is still far off, and he’s not in a rush. His approach is methodical, rooted in patience and preparation.
“You can’t skip steps,” he said. “I’m just focused on getting better every day. I know if I do that, everything else will take care of itself.”
And yet, it’s hard not to look ahead — to envision the possibility of another Blaylock hearing his name called on draft night. To imagine Tory, wearing his father’s number, scoring touchdowns in an NFL stadium. It’s a dream that once belonged to a young boy in Texas, watching film with his dad and pretending to be a pro. Now, it belongs to a young man who is ready to make that dream a reality.
Oklahoma fans, meanwhile, are eager to see what the future holds. The Sooners have had their share of legendary backs — from Adrian Peterson to Samaje Perine to DeMarco Murray — and while it’s far too soon to make those kinds of comparisons, Blaylock’s potential is undeniable. If he stays healthy, continues to develop, and keeps that chip on his shoulder, there’s no telling how far he can go.
Tory Blaylock isn’t just another recruit. He’s a name with a story, a purpose, and a path that was paved long before he ever took a snap. Now, it’s up to him to walk it. Step by step. Yard by yard. Game by game. Just like his father — and maybe, one day, even further.