NORMAN — University of Oklahoma running back Tory Blaylock and defensive back Courtland Guillory were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team, the conference office announced Thursday. Selections were made by the league's head coaches, who were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Blaylock has started in five of his 12 games and leads the team with 444 yards and four touchdowns on 109 carries. He has also made eight receptions for 41 yards. The true freshman from Humble, Texas, has rushed for at least 100 yards twice, registering 100 yards and two touchdowns at Temple and 101 yards and a TD at South Carolina.
Against Temple, Blaylock became the first OU freshman running back (true or redshirt) to register a 100-yard rushing effort in at least one of his first three games since current running backs coach DeMarco Murray did it in 2007. In his collegiate debut, Blaylock rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Illinois State and added 78 yards against Kent State.
Guillory, a true freshman from Houston, has been a steady presence at cornerback for the Sooners. He has played in all 12 games and made 10 starts, totaling 39 tackles (1.0 for loss), six pass breakups (second most on the team) and a QB hurry. He registered at least four tackles in each of the last five games and in six contests this season, all in SEC play. He has logged 33 of his 39 tackles, five of his six pass breakups and both of his tackles for lost yardage against SEC competition.
In the season opener against Illinois State, Guillory became only the second OU true freshman to start at cornerback in a season opener (the other was P.J. Mbanasor in 2015). He recorded one tackle and a pass breakup in that contest and notched three tackles and a QB hurry against Michigan the following week. He notched a season-high seven stops and a pass breakup at Tennessee and made six tackles (0.5 for loss) a season-high three pass breakups against Ole Miss.
The No. 8 Sooners (10-2, 6-2 SEC) will host No. 9 Alabama (10-3, 7-1 SEC) in the College Football Playoff First Round on Friday, Dec. 19, at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on ABC and ESPN.