Oklahoma football: Mount Rushmore of all-time Sooner RBs
By Chip Rouse
Joe Washington
Joe Washington played for Barry Switzer at Oklahoma at the beginning of the Sooner wishbone era. He wasn’t a big player (listed at 5-foot, 9-inches and around 180 pounds), but his speed and elusiveness made him a threat to score a touchdown every time he touched the ball, and that was often while he was at OU.
He exceeded 1,000 yards rushing his sophomore and junior seasons and with 4,071 career rushing yards and 39 touchdowns, Washington sits third, between Billy Sims and Adrian Peterson, on the Sooner all-time list.
A two-time first-team All-American, Washington, Washington finished third in the Heisman voting in 1974 and fifth in 1975. He played on two OU national championship teams (1974 and ’75). The Sooners were 43-2-1 during the time Washington was there.
In over 60 years watching Oklahoma football, Washington was one of the most exciting Sooner players I ever saw play. He definitely deserves a spot on my Mount Rushmore of great Oklahoma running backs — and there have been plenty of them.