Ollie Gordon II might have dreamed of hearing his name called in the 2025 NFL Draft. And as time passes, that dream is starting to feel more and more real.
It’s been a journey for Gordon, who played his college ball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. He’s had his ups and downs, but one person who never left his side was his mother. So who is she? Here’s a look at the woman who helped carry Gordon through his rise to the NFL.
Who Is Ollie Gordon II’s Mother, Taronna Smith?
There is not much public information about Gordon’s father, but as the name Ollie Gordon II implies, his father shares the same name. Gordon’s mother, Taronna Smith, defined her motherhood through the running back’s journey as the back saw peaks and valleys.
While his 2023 season was impressive, his 2024 season didn’t live up to expectations on the field. Off the field, he also dealt with some issues, as he faced a DUI charge in July 2024.
“You can’t harp on it. Just got to take it one day at a time,” Gordon’s mother said about the stressful situation to Spectrum News. “Everything’s not going to always be a win. You got to take the good with the bad, the wins with the losses. … Because most of the time, when things don’t go your way, you tend to give up and not want to do it. And he’s persevered through all of that.”
Gordon spoke about his mother’s commitment to him. “Some days she had to skip work to take me to school, or even walk me to school,” Gordon said. “As a kid, she put it all on the line for me. And for her to be able to watch her hard work pay off, I feel like that’s huge.”
Gordon’s draft moment is approaching, and the running back is expecting tears from his mother after all of the struggles. “I know she’s gonna hug me and start crying,” Gordon said. “She might be crying for no reason before I hear my name called.”
“There’s so much we talked about, what’s going to happen,” Smith said. “Once he gets that call, it’s, ‘Oh, I’m tearing up.’ It’s just, ‘We did it.’”
Potential Landing Spots for Gordon
Gordon will get into the NFL. It’s just a matter of when and where. The running back’s selling point was his 2023 season, when he earned 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns. Both figures led the Big 12 and the FBS. It will be enough to sell at least one team, but which ones?
The Denver Broncos finished 16th in PFSN’s Offense+ metric in 2024, skipped a running back in the first round, and need to fill the position. Gordon makes sense. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys shocked the NFL by not taking a running back in the first round; their next pick almost assuredly should be a running back like Gordon.
The San Francisco 49ers have an aging Christian McCaffrey coming off a lost season and need some fresh blood. If Gordon is available deep enough in the draft, he could head to San Francisco.