Rodney Anderson updates wounds: Oklahoma RB leaves UCLA

Oklahoma Redshirt junior offensive midfielder Rodney Anderson left the Sooners game against UCLA on Saturday after a run at the very end of the first quarter. He was attacked by three Bruins defensemen, his body twisting a little on the ground. Oklahoma later announced that he would not return to the game.

Anderson immediately grabbed his right knee and then walked with the medical staff to the locker room cautiously, but apparently under his own power.

The former back of Oklahoma, J.D. Runnels, said:

The running back has a significant injury history to OR. He played two games in 2015 before suffering a leg injury. The following year, an injury to the neck in an autumn camp held him back all year. But in his first healthy season as a starter, Anderson shone.

Anderson flew somewhat under the radar in 2017, although he was the main striker in the country. Baker Mayfield and the UO's passing game attracted much more attention, even though Anderson has eclipsed 1,400 yards and scored 18 touchdowns. In 2018 against the FAU, he wore five times 100 yards and two points.

Earlier this year, Anderson was considered a marginal but legitimate Heisman candidate. (If anything worked against him in this race, it's that he shares an attack with former five-star star Kyler Murray, who would likely take a lot of votes from him.) Anderson had 50/1 Heisman in August, according to offshore bookmaker Bovada.

His co-backups on the OU depth map are second-year students Trey Sermon and Marcelias Sutton. Oklahoma has a lot of talent elsewhere on its attack, but the loss of Anderson for a period of time would make the unit much weaker.

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