Pledger had good games against Texas (131 yards) and TCU (122 yards) while Stevenson was unavailable, which were huge contributions at the time, if anyone remembers.
Pledger is a good player and adds decent depth. And carrying the ball 7 times for only 18 yards doesn't make him "a dime a dozen" player. Plus, OSU has a good defensive line.
Pledger was available against a great LSU team and didn't chose to get himself suspended....in a suspension (losing Stevenson and Perkins) that torpedoed OU's chances in its two losses this year as far as I'm concerned.
OU will have a really good running back corps if McGowan gets healthy, Major can contribute and with Pledger. The depth behind Stevenson is not as good as it's been historically, but Rattler's quarterbacking makes it less of an issue.
Next year, Stevenson will be very hard to replace. Hopefully, Camar Wheaton (an OU lean) or LJ Johnson (a Texas lean that OU is still in the hunt for) can join the team. We may find out in December.