Top running back decommits from OU, eyes the SEC

When it comes to finding another star running back for the Class of 2013, Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops and his staff are back to the drawing board.

The Sooners lost a pledge from top tailback Greg Bryant when he decided that he wanted to take his talent to a campus in the SEC and not Norman. The American Heritage-Boca-Delray High School (Delray Beach, Fla.) product, who is a top five national running back, decommitted from OU.

The 5-11, 197-pounder told Chris Nee of Rivals.com that he is looking at SEC schools Auburn, South Carolina and Georgia.

So where does Oklahoma turn as the program looks to land another star tailback?

Keep in mind that another top national RB, Keith Ford, remains committed to OU. And he may be an even stronger commit now that Bryant has rescinded his verbal. If Stoops and Co. do not wait until 2014 to add even more backfield depth, getting a pledge from Virginia native Derrick Green remains a possibility. The decommitment of Bryant may actually help the cause.

The 5-11, 235-pound Green recorded 20 touchdowns on the ground during his junior season, and the bruiser has made trips to Wisconsin, Michigan, Clemson, North Carolina, North Carolina State as well as Oklahoma. Despite his size, he has very good speed and explosiveness.

So while the news of Bryant's decommitment is a blow, OU still has a strong pledge from Ford while Green also remains in the mix.

Email dave.miller@nationalfootballpost.com or follow me on Twitter at Miller_Dave