Oct 14, 2006; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back (28) Adrian Peterson in the backfield against the Iowa State Cyclones at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The Sooners beat the Cyclones 34-9. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE © copyright Matthew Emmons
To qualify this ranking of running backs at Oklahoma, I have included only players that I have personally seen in person at the stadium or live on television. I began watching Sooner football in 1958 and my remembrances go back to 1961. With that, I have not included any player before 1961. This is the first part of a series of greatest Sooner football players by position. Please comment on my lists and argue your best Sooner players. There are no right or wrong rankings. The lists, started with Joe Don Looney (10th best running back), will include offensive and defensive positions. Statistics, abilities, and overall significance to the OU football program are all included in picking the ten, but when all things are equal, my personal preference is the tie breaker.
Adrian Peterson (All American, 2004)
As a freshman, Adrian Peterson had a record breaking season of 1925 yards on the ground and finished as the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting. HIs sophomore and junior season were beset with injuries, yet he amassed 1000 seasons to add to his fabulous first year total. Talent wise, Peterson, as a college player, was in the class of Sooner Billy Sims. A fast, strong and devastating runner to the defense, AD lived up to “All Day”. The Palestine, Texas recruit went to the NFL after that junior season and improved into one of the all time runners in the history of the League, that would include Emmett Smith, Jim Brown, OJ Simpson, Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, and Walter Payton. I have Adrian Peterson as the 3rd greatest Sooner running back (while in Norman), but adding his NFL career, he could become the greatest rusher (in yards) in the League when he is finished. He has mentioned that he wants to be that man and hopes to play into his middle to late thirties.
National Records set by Adrian Peterson:
| Rushing | |
| Rushes by a Freshman (Season) | 339 – Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, 2004 (1,925 yards) |
| Yards Gained by a Freshman (Season) | 1,925 – Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, 2004 (339 rushes) |
| Earliest Game By a Freshman Reaching 1,000 Yards | 7th – Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, 2004 (1,023 vs. Kansas, Oct. 23) |
| Games Gaining 100 Yards or More by a Freshman (Season) | 11 – Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, 2004 |
| Consecutive Games Gaining 100 Yards or More by a Freshman (Season) | 9 – Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma, 2004 |
Peterson is currently 3rd on the all time rushing list behind Joe Washington and Billy Sims. His record as a rusher at OU:
Rushing
|
|
Att |
Yards |
TD |
Long |
Y/A |
100Y |
200Y |
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 |
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| 2004 | FR | 339 | 1,925 | 15 | 80 | 5.7 | 11 | 3 | ||||||||||
|
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| 2005 | SO | 220 | 1,108 | 14 | 84 | 5.0 | 5 | 2 | ||||||||||
|
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| 2006 | JR | 188 | 1,012 | 12 | 53 | 5.4 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||
|
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| Totals | 747 | 4,045 | 41 | 84 | 5.4 | 22 | 6 | |||||||||||
