Oklahoma football: Ranking the Sooners six Heisman winners

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NORMAN, OK – OCTOBER 28: Members of the Oklahoma Sooners spirit squad perform before the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 49-27. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

No. 4 – Halfback Billy Vessels, 1952 Heisman Trophy winner

As the Oklahoma Football Media Guide describes him, “Billy ‘Curly’ Vessels was the man who started it all.” He was the first Oklahoma player to win the Heisman Trophy and the 18th overall winner of the coveted award.

Vessels was a member of Oklahoma’s first national championship team, in 1950, but his best season at OU was his Heisman year in 1952.

There wasn’t that much difference between the 1950 Sooners and the 1952 team, even though the 1950 team finished No, 1 in the country. The 1952 Sooners ended the season with an 8-1-1 record, won the Big Seven championship and finished No, 4 in the nation. OU tied Colorado in the season opener in 1952, and its only loss came at the hands of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 27-21.

Vessels was a dual-threat running back in his day. He was a slasher running the football and also was a threat catching passes as a receiver out of the backfield. Vessels gained 1.067 rushing yards his senior season, averaging over six yards per carry, and rushed for 17 touchdowns. He also caught 17 passes for 165 yards.

In 1974, Vessels was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

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