{"id":1477,"date":"2015-12-22T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-12-22T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=1477"},"modified":"2020-04-06T04:11:21","modified_gmt":"2020-04-06T09:11:21","slug":"greatest-sooner-running-backs-number-eight-samaje-perine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredsportsextra.com\/?p=1477","title":{"rendered":"Greatest Sooner Running Backs-Number Eight, Samaje Perine"},"content":{"rendered":"

Above Photo Credit:\u00a0 Oklahoma\u2019s Samaje Perine (32) takes a hit as he runs with the ball against Texas Tech during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, in Norman, Okla.. (Kyle Phillips\/The<\/p>\n

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OU\u2019s Samaje Perine looks for space as TU\u2019s Will Barrow tackles him during the first half of the OU v Tulsa football game on Sept 6, 2014. TOM GILBERT\/Tulsa World<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, front right, greets running back Samaje Perine (32) who returns to the bench following a touchdown in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game against Texas Tech in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015. (AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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.\u00a0 I began watching Sooner football in 1958 and my remembrances go back to 1961.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Please comment on my lists and argue your best Sooner players.\u00a0 There are no right or wrong rankings.\u00a0\u00a0 The lists,\u00a0started with Joe Don Looney (10th best running back), will include offensive and defensive positions.\u00a0 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.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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UPDATED ON APRIL 6, 2020<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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8.\u00a0\u00a0Samaje Perine\u00a0(2014-2016) All-American 2014<\/span><\/h5>\n

The three time 1000 yard rusher from Hendrickson High School near Austin, Texas, is the current all-time career rushing leader for OU. \u00a0\u00a0 He was ranked 8th in my list as of Dec. 2015 and is still at that rank.\u00a0 He would have moved up if he had not entered the NFL draft after his junior season in Norman.\u00a0 His career in the NFL has not been all that great but the fourth year back is sill in the League as a member of the Miami Dolphins. \u00a0 As mentioned in 2015,\u00a0 Perine had the opportunity to be the leading all-time rusher in OU history with a big junior season and he got over 1000 yards to now hold that honor.<\/p>\n

Coming to OU with two outstanding qualities (high self-esteem and a mature and fully developed body), Perine was ready to fill the running back slot for the Sooners as a true freshman.\u00a0 An eighteen year old kid that looked like a fully grown man, Perine is the real deal, a bull dozing machine that can run over, through, or around defenders, then out race them to the goal line.\u00a0 In his first year in Norman, Perine broke the NCAA\u00a0mark for rushing yards in a game, 427, against the Kansas Jayhawks, a record he still owns.\u00a0He scored five touchdowns in that\u00a0blow-out win for OU.\u00a0\u00a0He is a historically significant player on the national level with that performance and more can be expected to come. He will get the complete attention of the Clemson Tigers in the National semi-final in the 2015 season\u2019s Orange Bowl.\u00a0 Perine rushed for 4122 yards, four more than Billy Sims at 4119.\u00a0 He is also 4th in rushing touchdowns, with 49.\u00a0 Only Billy Sims, Steve Owens, and DeMarco Murray have more.<\/p>\n

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Perine rushed for 427 yards on 34 rushes along with six touchdowns in a victory over Kansas, breaking the NCAA FBS single game rushing record set by Wisconsin\u2019s Melvin Gordon just a week earlier. That was on Nov. 8, 2015.<\/p>\n

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Perine, was every bit as good as any running in the country during his time at OU<\/p>\n