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Ten Most Indispensable Oklahoma Football Players in 2016

By Chip Rouse

Dec 31, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA;Clemson Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners line up 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;Clemson Tigers and Oklahoma Sooners line up 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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Nov 14, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) and wide receiver Dede Westbrook (11) during the game against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. The Sooners defeat the Bears 44-34. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; Waco, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) and wide receiver Dede Westbrook (11) during the game against the Baylor Bears at McLane Stadium. The Sooners defeat the Bears 44-34. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Junior Running Back Samaje Perine

Samaje Perine burst on the scene as a relatively unknown running back two seasons ago, and now finds himself just a little over 1,000 yards shy of becoming the career rushing leader at a school that has produced some of the premier running backs in college football history.

Perine’s size and strength makes him a difficult load to corral, especially when he gets up a head of steam and is running downhill. He is going for a third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season in 2016 and is just 1,147 yards shy of eclipsing Billy Sims’ career rushing mark at Oklahoma (4,118).

In two seasons at Oklahoma, Perine has turned in 11 games in which he has rushed for 100 or more yards in a game. In a game against Kansas in his freshman season he set the NCAA single-game rushing record with 427 yards.

The Sooners’ ability to run the football with Perine and teammate Joe Mixon keeps defenses honest and opens up opportunities for Mayfield and OU to attack through the air.

Next: Joe Mixon Gives the Sooners Offensive Versatility

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