Oklahoma football: Top 10 Sooner first-round NFL Draft picks
By Chip Rouse
Billy Sims was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1980 NFL Draft, selected by the Detroit Lions. His NFL career was cut short after five seasons when he suffered a catastrophic knee injury that prematurely ended what might otherwise have been a sensational professional career.
Sims held the career rushing record at Oklahoma for nearly four decades before Samaje Perine took over the top spot with 4,122 rushing yards. That is four more than Sims’ 4,118 yards on the ground.
In five NFL seasons (four and a half, actually), Sims rushed for 5,106 yards and 42 touchdowns. His best season as a pro was in 1981, when he ran for 1,437 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging nearly five yards per carry.
Sims was NFL Offensive Rookie of the year in 1980. He was named All-Pro three times (First-Team All-Pro in 1981), and three times was selected to the Pro Bowl.