Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma Football: Something You Might Want to Know That You May Not

By Chip Rouse

Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) hands the ball off to running back Samaje Perine (32) in the first quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) hands the ball off to running back Samaje Perine (32) in the first quarter of the 2015 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Running back Samaje Perine crossed the goal line ran for 17 touchdowns for the Sooners in the 2015 season. Sixteen of those Oklahoma football TDs were rushing touchdowns.

Nov 22, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) runs past Kansas Jayhawks safety Isaiah Johnson (5) during the game at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) runs past Kansas Jayhawks safety Isaiah Johnson (5) during the game at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Perine is the featured back in one of the most dynamic ground tandems in college football. The 5-foot, 11-inch, 234-pound junior running back pairs with sophomore Joe Mixon. In their first season together a year ago the pair combined for over 2,000 yards on the ground and 28 total touchdowns (23 rushing and 5 receiving). Both averaged over six yards per carry.

Asked during this week’s Big 12 Media Days event in Dallas if the combo of Perine and Mixon is as good as he’s had in his time at Oklahoma, Sooner head coach Bob Stoops quickly responded: “It’s fair to say, yes, absolutely!

“They have it all. They’ve got great hands. They’re really well-rounded guys that compliment each other well. I don’t know that I’ve had two of that quality.”

Perine, who hails from the Austin, Texas, a suburb of Pflugerville – of all places – hit the Big 12 by storm his freshman season and surprised everyone with a league-leading 1,713 yards rushing, including an NCAA record 427 yards in a single game against Kansas.

An All-Big 12 First Team selection last season, Perine has totaled 3,862 yards rushing his first two seasons in a Sooner uniform. That leaves him just 1,056 yards shy of Billy Sims’ career rushing record at Oklahoma.

Perine says his favorite things to do are lifting (weights) and running over people. It’s pretty clear he has run over and around more than a few toting the ball for the Sooners.

In the past two seasons, has scored more rushing touchdowns than any running back in a Power Five conference. The Sooner bruiser has 37 rushing TDs during that time, three more than Royce Freeman of Oregon (34) and five better than LSU Heisman Trophy candidate Leonard Fournette. All three are juniors this season.

Said OU quarterback Baker Mayfield when he found out how close Perine is to becoming the all-time Sooner rushing leader:

"“I just found out about that today (during OU’s appearance at Big 12 Media Days),” Mayfield said. “I thought that was one of the best things ever with all the running backs to come through Oklahoma. He needs what, 1,056 yards? I’m going to feed him.”"

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