Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: Ranking every Sooners’ starting QB since 1999

By Aaron Gelvin

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 23: A Ruf/Nek parades the Oklahoma Sooners flag around the field after a touchdown against the TCU Horned Frogs on November 23, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 28-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 23: A Ruf/Nek parades the Oklahoma Sooners flag around the field after a touchdown against the TCU Horned Frogs on November 23, 2019 at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. OU held on to win 28-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 18: An Oklahoma Sooners Ruf Nek runs across the field with an OU flag after a 100-yard return on a blocked point-after-touchdown for two points against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 18, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 23-16. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 18: An Oklahoma Sooners Ruf Nek runs across the field with an OU flag after a 100-yard return on a blocked point-after-touchdown for two points against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 18, 2021 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma won 23-16. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

No. 12 — Paul Thompson

One start in 2005, 14 Starts in 2006

Paul Thompson certainly had an interesting career in the Crimson and Cream. He didn’t play much as a backup quarterback in his first three years in Norman, before winning the starting QB job over Rhett Bomar out of camp to begin the 2005 season. But the opening loss against TCU made Stoops and company move in a different direction away from Thompson at quarterback.

Thompson was then moved to wide receiver during the ’05 season with the younger Bomar seemingly entrenched as a long-term starter.

But that’s not where Thompson’s story ends. After Bomar was dismissed from the team before the 2006 season, Thompson started all fourteen games for the Sooners, who wound up winning the Big 12 that year. After a 3-2 start, Thompson and company rattled off eight straight victories, culminating in the conference championship victory over Nebraska.

Thompson’s versatility and his out-of-nowhere ’06 season land him at twelfth on this list.

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