Once again, a position open at Oklahoma was filled by someone that no one initially saw coming.
[After losing running backs coach DeMarco Murray to the Kansas City Chiefs,](https://stormininnorman.com/demarco-murray-finally-leaves-oklahoma-but-only-for-dream-chiefs-role) OU head coach Brent Venables went to the NFL level to find Murray's replacement in former Las Vegas Raiders running backs coach Deland McCullough as the Sooners' new running backs coach, [according to ESPN's Pete Thamel on Wednesday morning.](https://x.com/PeteThamel/status/2024113758642008182?s=20)
Deland McCullough replacing DeMarco Murray for Sooners
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McCullough spent just this past season with the Raiders as rookie Ashton Jeanty rushed for 975 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 3.7 yards on 266 carries. Although not much of a pass-catcher at Boise State, Jeanty had 55 receptions for 346 yards and five more scores in his first NFL season.
Before heading to Las Vegas, McCullough was Notre Dame's running backs coach for three years and also held the title of associate head coach in 2024, when the Fighting Irish made the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. He coached future Doak Walker Award winner Jeremiyah Love for two of those seasons. Jeanty won the award in 2024.
McCullough also coached running backs for Indiana (twice), the Kansas City Chiefs and USC. With a coaching change in Vegas, McCullough was actually another top target to be the Chiefs' next running backs coach before they ultimately hired Murray and opened up this new opportunity for McCullough after missing that one.