Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Sooners’ Top 5 NFL draft classes since 2000

By John Makuch

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners looks on in the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2018 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Running back Adrian Peterson #28 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs against the Oregon Ducks during the first half of the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl on December 29, 2005 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images)
Running back Adrian Peterson #28 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs against the Oregon Ducks during the first half of the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl on December 29, 2005 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images) /

5. 2007 NFL Draft

Three players were selected in 2007 NFL Draft that came out of Oklahoma Football, with Adrian Peterson the only one left who is still playing to this day.

After Peterson however, two other Sooners were selected in the 6th and 7th round, respectively.

Not much needs to be said about Peterson. He is one of the greatest running backs in the history of the National Football League as well as college football. The future Hall of Famer is top five in both career rushing yards and touchdowns and is currently entering his 15th season in the NFL.

Spending most of his career with the Vikings, Peterson won many accolades while in Minnesota,  including an MVP award in 2012, which was the season that followed a gruesome knee injury. Many thought he would never be the same after that injury, and they were right except he got better instead of worse.

That MVP season was one of the great NFL comeback stories of all-time. Peterson is a legend that many young running backs look up to today, and his talent and ability are something we may not see again for some time in the NFL or college football.

The GOAT running back of the 2000s has had a ridiculous college and pro career. His longevity is yet another reason he is a legend, and his greatness is the reason this draft class cracked this list.

Rufus Alexander was Big 12 Player of the Year, as well as First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big12 in 2006. When he got to the NFL, he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his first preseason game with the Minnesota Vikings and was unable to stick on a team after that.

C.J. Ah You was drafted in the 7th round after playing for two seasons at Oklahoma. A transfer from BYU. Ah You would go on to win Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2005, and then was named First-Team all Big 12 the following season, in 2006, along with Alexander.

Ah You spent most of his career with the St. Louis Rams, from 2007-2012, back when the Rams still called Missouri home. He finished his career with six sacks, but ended up hanging up the cleats after a short career.

Ah You would return to Oklahoma Football in 2015 as a special teams quality control coach under College Football Hall of Famer Bob Stoops and last coached for the New York Guardians of the XFL as their defensive line coach.

Home/OU Football